Association between inflammation and post-intensive care syndrome: a systematic review

Docherty, C., Page, C., Wilson, J., Ross, P., Garrity, K. , Quasim, T. , Shaw, M. and McPeake, J. (2024) Association between inflammation and post-intensive care syndrome: a systematic review. Anaesthesia, (doi: 10.1111/anae.16258) (PMID:38508699) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Post-intensive care syndrome describes the physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms which persist following critical illness. At present there is limited understanding of the pathological mechanisms contributing to the development of post-intensive care syndrome. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise current evidence exploring the association between inflammation and features of post-intensive care syndrome in survivors of critical illness. Relevant databases were systematically searched for studies of human participants exposed to critical illness. We sought studies that reported results for biomarkers with an identified role in the pathophysiology of inflammation obtained at any time-point in the patient journey and an outcome measure of any feature of post-intensive care syndrome at any point following hospital discharge. We included 32 studies, with 23 in the primary analysis and nine in a brain injury subgroup analysis. In the primary analysis, 47 different biomarkers were sampled and 44 different outcome measures were employed. Of the biomarkers which were sampled in five or more studies, interleukin-8, C-reactive protein and interleukin-10 most frequently showed associations with post-intensive care syndrome outcomes in 71%, 62% and 60% of studies, respectively. There was variability in terms of which biomarkers were sampled, time-points of sampling and outcome measures reported. Overall, there was mixed evidence of a potential association between an inflammatory process and long-term patient outcomes following critical illness. Further high-quality research is required to develop a longitudinal inflammatory profile of survivors of critical illness over the recovery period and evaluate the association with outcomes.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Quasim, Professor Tara and Garrity, Dr Kevin and Shaw, Dr Martin and Docherty, Dr Christie
• Authors: Docherty, C., Page, C., Wilson, J., Ross, P., Garrity, K., Quasim, T., Shaw, M., and McPeake, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Anaesthesia
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0003-2409
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2044
• Published Online: 20 March 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Anaesthesia 2024
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence