ABSTRACT: Aim In post?intensive care syndrome (PICS), long?term survivors of critical illness present various physical and mental symptoms that can persist for years after discharge. Post?intensive care syndrome in Japan has not been well described, so this study aims to elucidate its epidemiology. Methods We undertook a single?center prospective longitudinal cohort study in a mixed intensive care unit (ICU) in a Japanese tertiary hospital. Adult patients emergently admitted to the ICU were eligible for inclusion in the study. To assess activity of daily living (ADL) status and psychiatric symptoms, we posted a questionnaire at 3 and 12 months after discharge from the ICU. We evaluated ADL status, anxiety, depression, and post?traumatic stress disorder symptoms using the Barthel index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Impact of Event Scale ? Revised, respectively. Results Enrolled in this study were 204 patients. We received responses from 117/147 (80%) and 74/98 (76%) patients at 3 and 12 months, respectively. At 3 months, the prevalence of ADL disability, anxiety, depression, and post?traumatic stress disorder symptoms was 32%, 42%, 48%, and 20%, respectively. At 12 months, the prevalence was 22%, 33%, 39%, and 21%, respectively. The prevalence of any symptoms was 66% at 3 months and 55% at 12 months. Barthel index score at 12 months was improved significantly from that at 3 months. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Impact of Event Scale ? Revised scores at 12 months showed no improvement. Conclusions At 3 and 12 months after ICU discharge, over half of our Japanese patients suffered ADL disability and/or psychiatric symptoms. The ADL disability improved at 1 year, but psychiatric symptoms did not. This 1?year longitudinal study showed that over half of intensive care unit survivors suffered activity of daily living disability and/or psychiatric symptoms at 3 and 12 months after intensive care unit discharge. Activity of daily living disability improved at 12 months compared with at 3 months. Psychiatric symptoms persisted at 12 months.
