PTOTCohortArchives of physiotherapy2022

The five times sit-to-stand test: safety, validity and reliability with critical care survivors's at ICU discharge.

Thiago Araújo de Melo, Fernando Silva Guimarães, José Roberto Lapa E Silva

PMID 36597159

WHAT IT FOUND

The Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test is safe and highly reliable for high-functioning ICU survivors, but only 30% could perform it.

A time over 23.5 seconds predicted ICU readmission with 99% sensitivity, identifying patients at risk for longer stays and poorer function.

Key findings

01Only 30% of ICU survivors could perform the test, and 7% experienced adverse events, indicating it is applicable only to high-functioning patients.

02The test showed excellent inter-rater (ICC = 0.92) and intra-rater (ICC = 0.95) reliability and was safe, with vital sign changes consistent with normal exercise response.

03A completion time of 23.5 seconds or more predicted ICU readmission (AUC 0.94, Sensitivity 99%, Specificity 71%) and correlated moderately with longer hospital stays and lower functional independence.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs

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What it does not show

The test was only applicable to 30% of the screened ICU survivors, meaning it cannot be used for patients with significant weakness, cognitive impairment, or inability to stand independently. The study was conducted at a single center with a convenience sample, which may limit the generalizability of the results. The median age of participants was 51 years, which is relatively young for an ICU population, so findings may not fully apply to older adults with different comorbidity profiles. Adverse events were recorded, but the study design did not allow for the exclusion of individual studies or sensitivity analyses regarding the impact of these events on the overall validity data.

Declared interests

The authors did not declare any conflicts of interest or specific funding sources in the provided text.

The easy way to misread this

Do not assume this test is suitable for all ICU patients. It is only valid for those who can already stand and sit five times without assistance, which was only 30% of the eligible population in this study. Using it on weaker patients is not only impossible but may miss those who need the most support.

Read it on PubMed →