Associations Between Inactivity and Cognitive Function in Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors.
Maya N Elias, Emily A Ahrens, Farah A Schumacher and 2 others
PMID 38059708WHAT IT FOUND
Among older ICU survivors, less daytime activity relative to nighttime activity was associated with worse thinking flexibility scores.
The study could not show that inactivity caused cognitive decline.
Key findings
01After adjusting for age and grip strength, lower daytime-to-nighttime activity ratios were associated with worse cognitive flexibility scores.
02The mean daytime-to-nighttime activity ratio was 2.10, and 6 participants had ratios less than 1.
0344 of the 49 pooled older ICU survivors had complete data and were included in the final analyses.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only participants with complete data were analysed, so the sample was small and exploratory. The design was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that inactivity caused worse cognitive flexibility. Cognitive function was measured after ICU discharge, without a pre-ICU baseline, so some impairment may have existed before critical illness. Actigraphy may overestimate rest or sleep in critically ill patients, and the observation period was short. Some participants received opioids, benzodiazepines, or intravenous pain medication, which can affect activity and cognition. Some participants were transferred back to ICU or did not complete the cognitive test.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that increasing daytime activity will improve cognition. The study was cross-sectional and only showed an association, not cause.