The Contributing Factors for Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness among Critical Ill Patients

Background: One of the most common complications of intensive care unit stay is neuromuscular dysfunction, this is a secondary disorder for other life-threatening conditions. Critically ill patients have severed muscle weakness and are risk group for intensive care unit acquired weakness which effected by several factors. Ami: This study aims to assess the contributing factors of intensive care unit acquired weakness among critically ill patients. Design: An exploratory descriptive research design was utilized to aim of this study. Setting: This study was conducted at critical care unit in Qasr Alini hospital affiliated to Cairo university hospitals. Sample: A purposive sample of 80 patients from both gender and patients after two weeks from admission was included in the study.  Tools: Data was collected using four tools, tool I) Patients structured questionnaire that include two parts, part 1: patients Personal characteristics, part 2: Current & past history of patients, tool II) Medical research council scale for muscle strength, tool III) Contributing factors for intensive care unit acquired weakness, tool IV) Sequential organ failure assessment score. Results: this study revealed that majority of the studied patients had muscle weakness. There was a statistically significant relation between nutrition as modifiable contributing factors and the medical research council scale for muscle strength. While there was a statistically significant relation between age and gender as non-modifiable contributing factors and the medical research council scale for muscle strength. Conclusion: majority of the studied patients had muscle weakness. Recommendation: using the medical research council scale for muscle strength to diagnose intensive care unit acquired weakness should begin with a routine physical examination in all hospitals.