Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Chronic Pain after Critical Illness: A Single-center Prospective Analysis of Intensive Care Unit Survivors

Main Points• Chronic pain occurred in 40.2 percent of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors three months after discharge, mainly affecting the lower back, shoulders, and surgical trauma sites, confirming that pain is a key feature of post-intensive care syndrome.• Medical ICU patients had a higher incidence of pain than surgical patients, likely due to a greater comorbidity burden and longer ICU stays.• Vasopressor use and prolonged mechanical ventilation independently increased the risk of pain, while habitual physical activity was strongly protective against pain, supporting early risk stratification and structured rehabilitation.