400 Section - Incidence and Clinical Impact of Intensive Care Unit–Acquired Weakness on Non-Oral Feeding at Hospital Discharge: A Prospective Cohort Study

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

HT

Hiroyuki Tashima, MD

Assistant professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

MN

Masaki Ninomiya, MD

Assistant professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
AO

Aya Ozaki, MD

Assistant professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
MT

Mizuki Tokunaga, MD

Assistant professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
AH

Akiko Hachisuka, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
SS

Satoru Saeki, MD, PhD

Professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan

Objectives :

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is an acute neuromuscular complication that affects both mobility and swallowing functions. While ICU-AW has been associated with post-extubation dysphagia, its impact on oral intake status at hospital discharge remains unclear. Persistent feeding difficulties following ICU-AW may worsen post-discharge outcomes; therefore, their association warrants further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the association between ICU-AW and non-oral feeding at hospital discharge (NOFHD) in critically ill patients.

Design:

This prospective observational study included patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for more than 48 hours who received rehabilitation therapy. ICU-AW was diagnosed based on the criteria (Stevens RD, et al. 2009). NOFHD was defined as a Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) level I (Nothing by mouth) at hospital discharge. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between ICU-AW and NOFHD.

Results:

Of 1,704 patients admitted to the ICU, 207 were eligible for inclusion (median age 74 years; 71 women). Among them, 44 patients (21.3%) were diagnosed with ICU-AW, and 31 patients (15.0%) had FOIS level I, none of whom had non-oral feeding before ICU admission. Compared with patients without ICU-AW, significant differences were observed in sex, length of ICU stay, total hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, serum C-reactive protein levels and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index at ICU admission, and FOIS score at discharge. Seventeen ICU-AW patients (38.6%) had NOFHD. Logistic regression analysis showed that ICU-AW was independently associated with NOFHD after adjustment for potential confounders.

Conclusion:

Approximately 40% of ICU-AW patients had NOFHD. Difficulties in oral intake appeared to persist in these patients. Factors related to ICU-AW, such as disease progression, deconditioning, or possible swallowing impairment, may have contributed to NOFHD. As this was a preliminary study, further prospective research is needed to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.