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Post-Intensive Care Syndrome - Multicentre Prospective Registry Database of the DACH Region

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome - Multicentre Prospective Registry Database of the DACH Region

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07290712
Acronym
PICS-DACH
Enrollment
5000
Registered
2025-12-18
Start date
2026-02-04
Completion date
2035-11-01
Last updated
2026-08-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

PICS, PICS-F

Keywords

PICS, PICS-F, ICU, Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care, Critical Illness, Post Intensive Care Syndrome, Post Intensive Care Syndrome Family

Brief summary

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to long-term cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments that can arise after intensive care treatment. These symptoms may begin within 24 hours of ICU admission and persist for years. Affected patients and their families (PICS-F) face significant burdens, with up to 94% of relatives impacted. Given its high prevalence and socioeconomic impact, this prospective registry study aims to identify risk factors and long-term consequences of PICS and PICS-F. The study consists of six modules, starting with data collection during ICU stays and continuing with follow-ups at various intervals post-discharge (up to five years). The primary goal is to investigate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, while secondary objectives include identifying risk factors, determining impairment severity, and exploring biological mechanisms. Standardized questionnaires and biological samples (blood) are used for data collection.

Detailed description

BACKGROUND Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to newly occurring or intensified cognitive, physical, and psychological long-term effects, as well as pain and socioeconomic effects resulting from intensive care treatment. Symptoms can appear as early as 24 hours after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and persist for 5-15 years after discharge. The rate of affected individuals is very high. Three months after discharge due to an illness requiring intensive care, 64% of survivors were impaired in at least one of the three functional areas, and 56% were impaired after 12 months. The hospitalization of a close relative in the ICU affects the entire family system, i.e., all people with whom the patients have a significant relationship. The effects on the family or relatives are referred to as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family (PICS-F), which represents a significant burden for up to 94% of relatives. PICS and PICS-F are therefore of high socioeconomic importance. RELEVANCE Given the significant impact of PICS on patients, their families, and the socioeconomic system, gaining insights into the prevalence of risk factors and PICS criteria during ICU stay, as well as PICS and PICS-F after ICU discharge and hospital release, is highly valuable. DESIGN The study is divided into the following six modules: 1. ICU module 2. Post-ICU module 2: a) 1-3 months + 6 months, b) 1, 2, 5 years 3. Environment module 4. Psychiatry module 5. Translational module 6. Family system module (PICS-F) The participating centers take part in at least the first module, the ICU module, in which the risk factors and PICS as well as PICS-F domains are recorded during the intensive care stay. Depending on local conditions, capacity, and resources, the participating centers optionally participate in modules 2 to 6. In the individual modules, there is also the option of participating in a mode available to all centers or specialized for individual centers (e.g., functional tests that can only be performed in a PICS outpatient clinic (PICA)). For centers without PICA, follow-up observation is carried out, for example, via questionnaires. The corresponding mode of participation with and without PICA is displayed accordingly in the individual modules. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE • The primary objective of the prospective registry is to record and investigate the risk factors, diagnostic and therapeutic options for PICS and PICS-F. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES * Recording the frequency of multiple risk factors for and the manifestation of PICS and PICS-F during and after treatment in an intensive care unit. * Recording the rate of risk factors, especially the modifiable risk factors of PICS in different disease entities, such as sepsis, delirium, and other underlying diseases requiring intensive care. * Determination of cut-off values and rates of significant cognitive, physical and psychological impairments as well as pain. * Assessment of the significance for PICS between and within individual dimensions of PICS. * Estimation of incidence based on risk factors or different cut-off values for scores to define significant limitations at the cognitive, physical and psychological levels as well as chronic pain. * Determination and investigation of the influence of relevant external and internal environmental factors that contribute to the development and course of PICS/PICS-F. * Identification of molecular biological or pathophysiological processes of PICS. PROCEDURE 1. Examination using standardized questionnaires during intensive care. The aim is to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain (= PICS and PICS-F rates) while still in the intensive care unit. The patient and their relatives and friends are interviewed. 2. Follow-up examination using standardized questionnaires in the PICS outpatient clinic 1-3 and 6 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. The aim of these appointments is to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain. 3. Completion of standardized questionnaires to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain (1, 2, and 5 years after discharge from the intensive care unit; this can be done by telephone, electronically, by mail, via telemedicine, or in PICA). 4. Blood samples for the creation of a biobank (depending on follow-up appointments at the PICS study outpatient clinic: 4-7x 27ml each; timing: during ICU (inclusion (\> 72h ICU stay) and ICU discharge), 1-3 months, 6 months and, if applicable, 1, 2, and 5 years after ICU discharge.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Medical University of Vienna
Lead SponsorOTHER
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Wuerzburg
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital Augsburg
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients with an ICU stay longer than 72 hours will be included

Exclusion criteria

* Age \< 18 years old * Patients who receive end-of-life care at the time of screening

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Diagnosis of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)up to 5 yearsFrequency of PICS diagnosis defined as the presence of at least one new or worsened impairment in one of the PICS domains (number/percentage)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Physical function assessed by the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)up to 5 years6MWT (distance walked in meters; higher values indicate better function).
Physical function assessed by the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT)up to 5 years´2MWT (distance walked in meters; higher values indicate better function).
Physical function assessed by the SPPBup to 5 yearsPhysical function, assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB, score 0-12; higher scores indicate better performance).
Nutritional status assessed by the MNAup to 5 yearsNutritional status, assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA, score 0-30; higher scores indicate better nutritional status).
Health-related quality of life assessed by EQ-5D-5Lup to 5 yearsHealth-related quality of life, assessed by the EQ-5D-5L (index score; higher values indicate better quality of life).
Disability assessed by the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)up to 5 yearsDisability, assessed by the WHODAS 2.0, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
Cognitive function assessed by the MiniCogup to 5 yearsCognitive function, assessed by the MiniCog (score 0-5; higher scores indicate better cognition).
Cognitive function assessed by the Animal Naming Testup to 5 yearsVerbal fluency, assessed by the Animal Naming Test (number of animals named in 60 seconds; higher values indicate better cognition).
Cognitive function assessed by the RBANSup to 5 yearsCognition, assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS; higher scores indicate better cognition).
Cognitive function assessed by the TMTup to 5 yearsExecutive function, assessed by the Trail Making Test (TMT A and B, completion time in seconds; longer times indicate worse performance).
Depression assessed by the PHQup to 5 yearsDepression severity, assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ, higher scores indicate worse depression).
Anxiety assessed by the GADup to 5 yearsAnxiety severity, assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD, higher scores indicate worse anxiety).
PTSD symptoms assessed by the IES-Rup to 5 yearsPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, assessed by the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R; higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms).
Pain assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaireup to 5 yearsPain severity, assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (higher scores indicate worse pain).
Frequency of dysphagiaup to 5 yearsFrequency of clinically diagnosed swallowing disorder (number / percentage)
Work ability and disability days5 yearsChange in employment status and number of disability days from baseline to 5 years, assessed by self-report (more disability days indicate worse outcome).
Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care utilization5 yearsUse of psychiatric or psychotherapeutic services (yes/no), assessed from baseline to 5 years.
Noise annoyance assessed by the 11-point numeric noise-annoyance scale5 yearsChange in noise annoyance from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the 11-point numeric scale (0-10; higher scores indicate higher annoyance).
Noise annoyance assessed by the 5-point verbal scale5 yearsChange in noise annoyance from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the 5-point verbal scale (1-5; higher scores indicate higher annoyance).
Noise sensitivity assessed by the LEF-K questionnaire5 yearsChange in noise sensitivity from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the LEF-K (higher scores indicate greater sensitivity).
ICU environmental exposure measured by HIAwear/Sensorbox5 yearsChange in ICU environmental exposure from baseline to 5 years, measured continuously with HIAwear/Sensorbox (parameters include noise, light, particulate matter, temperature, humidity; higher values indicate greater exposure).
Atmospheric environmental exposure (ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter)5 yearsChange in atmospheric exposure from baseline to 5 years, assessed by pollutant concentrations (O3, NO, NO2, NOx, CO, PM1, PM2.5, PM10; higher values indicate greater exposure).
Anxiety and depression in relatives assessed by the HADS5 yearsChange in anxiety and depression symptoms of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the HADS (score 0-21; higher scores indicate worse symptoms).
Post-traumatic stress in relatives assessed by the IES-R5 yearsChange in PTSD symptoms of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the IES-R (higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms).
Work ability of relatives5 yearsChange in work status and disability days of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by self-report (more disability days indicate worse outcome).
Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care utilization by relatives5 yearsUse of psychiatric or psychotherapeutic services (yes/no), assessed in relatives from baseline to 5 years.
Body resistance (R)up to 5 yearsBody resistance (R) measured by BIA (Body impedance analysis)
Body reactance (Xc)up to 5 yearsBody reactance (Xc) measured by BIA (Body impedance analysis)
Physical function assessed by the Barthel Indexup to 5 yearsChange in activities of daily living, assessed by the Barthel Index (score 0-100; higher scores indicate better function).
Physical function assessed by the Timed Up-and-Go Testup to 5 yearsChange in mobility, assessed by the Timed Up-and-Go(time in seconds; longer times indicate worse performance).
Frequency of PICS sub-domainsup to 5 yearsFrequency of diagnosis of PICS-subdomains
Frailty statusup to 5 yearsFrailty status assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS; score 1-9, higher scores indicate worse frailty).
Physical function assessed by Handgrip Strengthup to 5 yearsMuscle strength, assessed by handgrip dynamometry (maximum grip strength in kg; higher values indicate better function).
Post-Intensive Care Syndrome symptoms assessed by the PICS Questionnaire (PICSq)up to 5 yearsPICS symptoms assessed by the PICSq (validated questionnaire 0-45 points; higher scores indicate greater impairment).

Countries

Austria, Germany

Contacts

CONTACTPICS-DACH Steering Committee
pics-dach-sc@listserv.muv.ac.at+4314040041020
CONTACTStudy Coordination AAI MUV
aai-research@muv.ac.at
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORStefan J Schaller, MD

Medical University of Vieanna

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBjoern Weiss, MD

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORClaudia Denke, Dr.

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORPatrick Meybohm, MD

Wuerzburg University Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORPhilipp Simon, MD

Universitätsklinikum Augsburg

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORClaudia Spies, MD

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristian Stoppe, MD

Wuerzburg University Hospital

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORManfred Weiss, MD

Universitätsklinikum Augsburg

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMarion Wiegele, MD

Medical University of Vienna

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 26, 2026