Multidimensional Dysfunction in Patients With Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in China

June 9, 2026 updated by: Hongying Jiang, MD

Multidimensional Dysfunction in Patients With Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in China: A Multi-center Real-world Study

Over the past two decades, the rapid advancement of critical care medicine has significantly reduced short-term mortality among critically ill patients. However, a growing number of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors experience persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments after hospital discharge, a syndrome termed post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Although PICS has gained increasing attention in recent years, existing studies still have multiple limitations. Given the continuously increasing number of ICU survivors in China and the marked heterogeneity in critical care delivery models across different regions and healthcare institutions, there is an urgent need for large-scale multicenter observational studies to systematically characterize the epidemiological features, multidimensional functional impairment profiles, and clinical impact of PICS in Chinese patients, thereby providing an evidence-based foundation for the development of a scientific post-ICU continuum of care.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This multi-center observational study aims to characterize the epidemiological profile and multidimensional functional impairments of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) in ICU survivors across China. The study will enroll approximately 800 eligible participants from four participating high-dependency units (HDUs) between January 2018 and January 2026. Data on physical, cognitive, and psychological function will be collected using validated assessment tools including the MRC score, ICU Mobility Scale, CPAx, MMSE, S5Q, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSQI, Barthel Index, and EQ-5D-5L. The primary outcomes include the incidence of PICS and comorbidity patterns across multiple functional domains. The secondary outcomes encompass functional status, quality of life, and risk factors for PICS.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
800

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Hongying Jiang, MD
  • Phone Number: +861056981098
  • Email: 6jhy@163.com

Study Locations

  • China
    • Anhui
      • Huaibei, Anhui, China
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Anhui Wanbei Rehabilitation Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100043
        • Recruiting
        • Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing,China
        • Contact:
          • Hong ying Jiang
          • Phone Number: +8601056981555
          • Email: 6jhy@163.com
    • Hunan
      • Hunan, Hunan, China, 410000
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Hunan Rehabilitation Hospital
        • Contact:
    • Zhengzhou
      • Henan, Zhengzhou, China, 450007
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

This study is a multi-center, retrospective, observational cohort study that will enroll patients from four participating high-dependency units (HDUs) across China. Patients transferred from general hospital ICUs to the participating HDUs between January 2018 and January 2026 will be screened. Data will be sourced from medical records, nursing records, rehabilitation assessment records, and follow-up documentation from routine clinical care. The anticipated total sample size is 800 participants.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years
  • First admission to ICU, with ICU length of stay ≥ 48 hours before transfer to HDU
  • Complete the PICS assessment within 7 days after HDU admission
  • Complete clinical data available (demographics, ICU-related information)
  • Signed informed consent obtained from participants or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior ICU admission
  • Terminal illness or estimated life expectancy <6 months
  • Participants or family members refuse to complete questionnaires

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
post-intensive care syndrome group
PICS patients who come from a general hospital ICU and are transferred to a participating HDU
Other: Data Collection and Assessment
  1. General clinical data collection: demographic characteristics, primary disease, duration of tracheostomy tube retention, duration of mechanical ventilation before transfer, and length of ICU stay before transfer; history of organ dysfunction; tube/catheter status; disease severity; nutritional status.
  2. Physical function assessment: diaphragmatic excursion, diaphragm thickness, thickening fraction, PEF; Medical Research Council score for muscle strength, ICU Mobility Scale; comprehensive score: Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool score.
  3. Cognitive function assessment: Standardized Five Questions，Mini-Mental State Examination.
  4. Psychological status assessment: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale , Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Brief Pain Inventory-9, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for family caregivers.
  5. Quality of life and functional capacity: Barthel Index, EQ-5D-5L.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
MRC Sum Score for Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
MRC (Medical Research Council) sum score assessing muscle strength. Total score ranges from 0 (complete quadriplegia) to 60 (normal bilateral muscle strength). Higher scores indicate better muscle strength.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
ICU Mobility Scale Score
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) assessing mobility level in ICU patients. Total score ranges from 0 (lying in bed, not active) to 10 (walking independently). Higher scores indicate better mobility.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool Score
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool (CPAx) comprehensively evaluating physical function in ICU patients. Total score ranges from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate better physical function.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Mini-Mental State Examination Score
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessing cognitive function. Total score ranges from 0 to 30. Higher scores indicate better cognitive function. (Chinese validated version will be used.)
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
PHQ-9 Score for Depression
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) assessing severity of depressive symptoms. Total score ranges from 0 to 27 (0-4: none, 5-9: mild, 10-14: moderate, 15-19: moderately severe, 20-27: severe). Higher scores indicate worse depression.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
GAD-7 Score for Anxiety
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) assessing severity of anxiety symptoms. Total score ranges from 0 to 21 (0-4: none, 5-9: mild, 10-14: moderate, 15-21: severe). Higher scores indicate worse anxiety.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Global Score
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessing sleep quality. Global score ranges from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Brief Pain Inventory-9 Pain Severity Score
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Brief Pain Inventory-9 (BPI-9) pain severity score. Total score ranges from 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate more severe pain.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Score for Family Caregivers
Time Frame: Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessing psychological status of family caregivers. Each subscale (anxiety and depression) ranges from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate worse psychological distress.
Collect data within 24 hours after admission to the HDU or within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Hongying Jiang, MD

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 12, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2026bkky-dzx-PICS

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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