Abstract
Background: Vasoactive medications are commonly used in the treatment of critically ill patients, but their impact on the development of ICU-acquired weakness is not well described. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vasoactive medication use and the outcome of ICU-acquired weakness. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of mechanically ventilated patients (N = 172) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of early occupational and physical therapy vs conventional therapy, which evaluated the end point of ICU-acquired weakness on hospital discharge. Patients underwent bedside muscle strength testing by a therapist blinded to study allocation to evaluate for ICU-acquired weakness. The effects of vasoactive medication use on the incidence of ICU-acquired weakness in this population were assessed. Results: On logistic regression analysis, the use of vasoactive medications increased the odds of developing ICU-acquired weakness (odds ratio [OR], 3.2; P =.01) independent of all other established risk factors for weakness. Duration of vasoactive medication use (in days) (OR, 1.35; P =.004) and cumulative norepinephrine dose (μg/kg/d) (OR, 1.01; P =.02) (but not vasopressin or phenylephrine) were also independently associated with the outcome of ICU-acquired weakness. Conclusions: In mechanically ventilated patients enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of early mobilization, the use of vasoactive medications was independently associated with the development of ICU-acquired weakness. Prospective trials to further evaluate this relationship are merited. Trial Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01777035; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 781-787 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | CHEST |
Volume | 154 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- ICUs
- critical care outcomes
- critical illness
- humans
- muscle weakness
- vasoconstrictor agents
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine