Physical and Mental Health of Patients Immediately After Discharge From Intensive Care Unit and ۲۴ Hours Later

Background: Monitoring the health status of patients discharged from intensive care units is a crucial method of service evaluation. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the physical and mental health status of patients immediately after discharge from the ICU and ۲۴ hours later. Patients and Methods: This descriptive comparative study was conducted on ۱۰۴ patients discharged from the ICUs of a referral trauma center in Shiraz, Southwest Iran. Physical parameters, including respiratory rate, need for supplemental oxygen, heart rate, blood pressure, and need for cardiac monitoring, were assessed. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) was used for mental health evaluation. The mental and physical status of patients were assessed before ICU discharge and ۲۴ hours later; data were recorded in information forms and were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version ۱۷. Results: At the time of discharge, the respiratory rate of ۲۸% of the participants was more than ۲۴ minutes, and ۹۵.۲% received supplemental oxygen. However, after ۲۴ hours these values decreased to ۱۰% and ۲۱.۶%, respectively. The mean heart rate and systolic blood pressure were within the normal range at both time points. Additionally, ۶۳% of the patients had anxiety scores above ۱۱ at both time points, reflecting high anxiety. The number of patients who reported depression increased from ۵۸.۷% at ICU discharge to ۶۹.۶% after ۲۴ hours. Conclusions: Despite the considerable improvement in most of the patients’ physical condition in the first ۲۴ hours after discharge from ICU, a significant number of them remain at risk for the development of adverse effects from this transition. The high prevalence of mental health disorders in these patients reveals the necessity to conduct follow-up consultations.