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NCT Number: NCT07521540

Integrated Rehabilitation in HDU for Post-Intensive Care SyndromeLiberation in Patients With PICS

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is characterized by persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments among survivors of critical illness. Although advances in intensive care medicine have reduced mortality, a large proportion of ICU survivors experience long-term functional impairments after discharge.

High-dependency units (HDUs) serve as transitional care settings between intensive care units and general wards. Many critically ill survivors who cannot directly return home are transferred to HDU for continued treatment and rehabilitation. However, evidence regarding systematic multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions in HDU settings remains limited.

This prospective single-center interventional study aims to evaluate the effects of an integrated multidisciplinary rehabilitation model implemented in the HDU on physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes among patients with post-intensive care syndrome. All enrolled patients will receive standardized integrated medical, nursing, and rehabilitation interventions. Multidimensional functional assessments will be conducted at baseline, during hospitalization, and before discharge from the HDU.

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Key information

Conditions

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) Critical Illness Recovery Mechanical Ventilation postintensive care syndrome

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University

Beijing, Shijingshan, 100144, China

About this study

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) includes physical weakness, cognitive impairment, and psychological disorders that occur after critical illness. Previous studies have shown that 50-70% of ICU survivors develop at least one PICS-related impairment within 6-12 months after discharge.

Current interventions mainly focus on ICU-based strategies such as the ABCDEF bundle, which can improve short-term outcomes but may not adequately address long-term functional recovery. Many patients remain severely debilitated after ICU discharge and require transitional care.

The high-dependency unit (HDU) represents a potential critical window for early rehabilitation intervention. Patients in this stage often have multiple functional impairments but remain medically stable enough to participate in rehabilitation programs.

This study will enroll patients transferred from ICU to HDU who meet diagnostic criteria for PICS. Participants will receive an integrated multidisciplinary intervention including medical management, respiratory rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, nursing care, and cognitive-psychological support.

Functional assessments will be conducted at baseline, every two weeks during hospitalization, and prior to HDU discharge. The study will evaluate changes in physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes associated with this intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age ≥18 years
Diagnosed with post-intensive care syndrome
Transferred from ICU to HDU
Available paired admission and discharge data

Exclusion criteria

Death within 24 hours after HDU admission
Missing primary outcome data

Treatment and study plan

Integrated Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation

Behavioral

Participants will receive a standardized multidisciplinary rehabilitation program implemented in the HDU, including:

Medical management Continuous treatment of primary diseases, medication optimization, complication prevention, and gradual removal of medical devices.

Respiratory rehabilitation Respiratory muscle training, airway clearance techniques, and breathing pattern training.

Physical rehabilitation Progressive mobilization according to patient tolerance, including passive exercises, active bed exercises, sitting training, standing training, and walking training.

Sessions are conducted 1-2 times per day, lasting 20-40 minutes each.

Rehabilitation nursing Position management, pressure injury prevention, device safety management, and sleep management.

Cognitive and psychological interventions Orientation training, cognitive stimulation activities, psychological support, and family participation.

Primary outcomes

Change in Physical Function (CPAx Score)

Time frame: Baseline (within 48 hours after HDU admission) and at HDU discharge，assessed up to 2 days

Change in Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool (CPAx) score from baseline to HDU discharge. The CPAx score ranges from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating better physical function.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jingyi Ge

CONTACT

[email protected]

+861056981098

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hongying Jiang, MD

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Integrated Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation in a High-Dependency Unit on Outcomes of Patients With Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: A Prospective Interventional Study

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Apr 13, 2026
Registry last updated: Apr 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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