Study population: baseline demographic and ICU medication exposure*
| Intervention (n=80) | Control (n=82) | |
| Baseline characteristics | ||
| Age, median (IQR), years | 61 (51–69) | 59 (48–67) |
| Male, n (%) | 53 (66%) | 54 (66%) |
| Weight (kg) median (IQR) | 81 (69–91) | 77 (68–98) |
| Functional Comorbidity Index, median (IQR) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index, median (IQR) | 2 (0–3) | 2 (1–3) |
| Katz activities of daily living scale, median (IQR) | 6 (6–6) | 6 (6–6) |
| Lawton IADL scale, median (IQR) | 8 (8–8) | 8 (8–8) |
| Years of education, median (IQR) | 13 (12–16) | 12 (11–17) |
| Living at home, n (%) | 77 (96%) | 80 (98%) |
| Employed, n (%) | 29 (36%) | 24 (29%) |
| Admission diagnosis category, n (%) | ||
| Respiratory (excluding pneumonia) | 18 (22%) | 13 (16%) |
| Pneumonia | 16 (20%) | 18 (22%) |
| Gastrointestinal | 14 (18%) | 16 (20%) |
| Cardiovascular | 8 (10%) | 10 (12%) |
| Non-Pulmonary Infection | 6 (8%) | 6 (7%) |
| Other | 18 (22%) | 19 (23%) |
| Surgical, n (%) | 23 (29%) | 14 (17%) |
| APACHE II Score, median (IQR) | 22 (16–27) | 23 (17–27) |
| SOFA score at randomisation, median (IQR) | 11 (7-13) | 10 (7-14) |
| ICU medications (ever used in the ICU), n (%) | ||
| Neuromuscular blocker after intubation | 20 (25%) | 19 (23%) |
| Corticosteroid | 46 (61%) | 42 (56%) |
| Insulin, | 30 (38%) | 29 (35%) |
| Propofol | 65 (81%) | 67 (82%) |
| Dexmedetomidine | 18 (23%) | 22 (27%) |
| Opiate | 77 (96%) | 75 (92%) |
Katz Index of independence in ADL score (range: 0–6, with 0–2=severe functional impairment, 3–4=moderate functional impairment, 6=full independence for bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring to a chair, continence and eating); Lawton IADL scale (ranges: 0 (low function, dependent) to 8 (high function, independent)). No significant difference between groups in demographic variables or ICU medication exposure.
*Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.
†Seven participants received neuromuscular blocking agents for >72 hours (five in intervention and two in control group).
ADL, activities of daily living; APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; IADL, instrumental activities of daily living; ICU, intensive care unit; SOFA, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.;