Post-Intensive care syndrome and COVID-19: crisis after a crisis?

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

“…Many may have been living with an anxiety and depressive disorder prior to hospitalisation (1 in 6 adults each year will experience a common mental health disorder such as an anxiety or depressive disorder [18] ), which will be exacerbated by the trauma of being diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to a respiratory ward or intensive care unit for ventilation. Those without pre-existing mental health conditions are at increased risk of developing an anxiety and/or depressive disorder associated with post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) [73] . At home they will face further isolation (denying them much needed ‘contact’ from family and friends).…”

Long COVID-19—it's not over until?

“…In some of the recovered patients, slow recovery is to be expected. Severe COVID-19 necessitates prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and symptoms of "post ICU syndrome" are not unique for COVID-19 7,8 . However, in this issue of CMI, a retrospective study by Carvalho-Schneider et al shows that mild and moderate COVID-19 recovered patients are suffering post COVID-19 symptoms as well, sometimes with disabling features and inability to return to their normal life 4 .…”

Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers

“…One emerging consequence of COVID-19 is the presence of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) characterized by symptoms involving physical strength deficits, cognitive decline, and mental health disturbances observed after discharge from critical care that persist for a protracted amount of time [17]. Therefore, patients surviving intensive care units (ICU) and mechanical ventilation for several weeks and other severe conditions will require early rehabilitation and other interventions.…”