Comparison of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome between Patients with and without COVID-19 who had Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Support in the Intensive Care Unit

Introduction: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is defined as new or deteriorating physical, cognitive, or mental health state after intensive care. This study compared patients with and without a diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) who received noninvasive mechanical ventilation support in the intensive care unit and were monitored for the onset of PICS. Methods: Retrospective imaging was performed on 50 COVID-positive and 50 non-COVID patients who were over 18 years of age and receiving non-invasive mechanical ventilation. The Mini Mental State test, Beck Depression test, Beck Anxiety test, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder test were administered to the patients to evaluate cognitive and psychiatric functioning after contacting them via the hospital system and obtaining the required consents. Results: Patients with COVID had longer stays in the ICU (p<0.001). Patients with COVID were observed to have a more severe depression than patients without COVID (p=0.019). Patients with COVID had a higher percentage of moderate and severe anxiety than those without COVID (p=0.003). Patients with COVID had a greater incidence of PTSD (p=0.025). Although COVID patients were more likely to have severe cognitive dysfunction than non-COVID patients, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.184). Physical dysfunction was significantly higher in the COVID group than in the non-COVID group (p=0.019). Longer stays in the ICU were found in patients who had PICS (p=0.008). Conclusion: When we examined the patient groups with and without a diagnosis of COVID, we concluded that PICS is more prevalent among COVID patients receiving non-invasive mechanical ventilator support.