ANZICS CTG Endorsed Study

PAIN ICU

Pain in Survivors of Intensive Care Unit Admission (The PAIN-ICU Study): An Observational Cohort Study

Study Description

Pain is a common occurrence in patients in the intensive care unit. The source of this pain is multifactorial, with some of it from the underlying illness (e.g. sepsis/severe infection) and some from the interventions that are required to keep the patient alive (e.g. breathing tubes). It is estimated that approximately 50% of patients feel pain at rest and 50% of patients report moderate to severe pain during their time in intensive care. This high rate of pain in ICU continues after the patient is discharged home, with approximately 50% of patients experiencing pain or discomfort up to 8 years after their ICU stay. This has profound implications for both the patients, their relatives and society as a whole. The reasons for this are not fully understood but are likely related to both the underlying illness that resulted in their ICU admission and the way that pain is managed in the ICU. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research into this area to best guide how to best manage this pain in the ICU and prevent long-term suffering of ICU survivors.

Our research project aims to determine the incidence of chronic pain in patients 6 months after they are discharged home from intensive care. We will look at the risk factors of developing chronic pain, so that therapies may be developed to try to decrease the chance of the development of chronic pain.

Management Committee

Benjamin Moran, Prof J Myburgh, Prof D Scott, Prof L Holliday, Prof N Hammond, Dr S Knowles, Prof A Patanwala, Dr C Taylor, Mrs L Dwyer

Administering Institution

The George Institute for Global Health

Sample Size

500 patients

Funding

John Hunter Hospital charitable Trust Research Grant, Intensive Care Foundation, ANZCA Research Grant

Reference

CTG1920-02, ACTRN12619000637145

Contact

Ben Moran (email)