COVID-19 Is Not an Independent Risk Factor for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BackgroundPost-intensive care syndrome (PICS) affects many ICU survivors, leading to persistent physical, cognitive, and mental health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about whether SARS-CoV-2 infection increases PICS risk. This study aimed to evaluate whether COVID-19 is an independent risk factor for PICS and to identify other contributing factors.MethodsThis retrospective cohort included 92 patients treated for respiratory failure in three ICUs at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin between July 2020 and September 2021. Patients were divided into COVID-19 (n = 49) and non-COVID-19 (n = 43) groups. At three months post-discharge, outpatient assessments consisted of demographic data, ICU-related variables, and evaluations of physical (handgrip dynamometry, Timed Up and Go test), cognitive (Mini-Cog, Animal Naming Test), and psychological health (PHQ-4). PICS was defined as at least one abnormal test; severity was graded by the number of affected domains. Logistic and ordinal regression analyses assessed whether COVID-19 was independently associated with PICS prevalence and severity.ResultsPICS was present in 71.4% of COVID-19 and 62.8% of non-COVID survivors (p = 0.378). Multivariable analysis showed no significant association between COVID-19 and PICS or its severity (OR = 1.46; 95% CI 0.50-4.23; p = 0.486; and OR = 1.09; 95% CI 0.45-2.68; p = 0.845, respectively).ConclusionsCOVID-19 was not independently associated with PICS in ICU survivors. Both groups experience high rates of long-term impairments, highlighting the importance of rehabilitation and follow-up care for all ICU survivors.