Cognitive performance of patients after discharge from the intensive care unit

Abstract

Objectives: to assess the cognitive performance of patients after ICU admission, identify the most affected cognitive domains, and correlate age and length of stay with cognitive performance in the study population. Methods: a field study with a descriptive, cross-sectional design and a quantitative approach was conducted in a public hospital in Fortaleza from September 2024 to February 2025. Forty-two (42) adult patients who had been admitted to the ICU for at least 48 hours and had no prior cognitive deficits were evaluated. Cognitive assessment was performed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment – Basic (MoCA-B), applied within 48 hours after ICU discharge. Results: Forty-two (42) patients participated, mostly female (71.4%), aged between 22 and 80 years, with a maximum length of stay of 30 days. Among the participants, 85.7% showed cognitive impairment, with the most significant deficits in executive function, followed by numerical and abstract reasoning. A significant association was observed between advanced age and poorer cognitive performance. Conclusion: cognitive impairment was prevalent among participants, with executive function being the most affected domain. Advanced age was strongly associated with worse performance, while length of stay showed a trend toward impact without statistical confirmation. Further research is needed to deepen the understanding of the effects of intensive care on cognitive performance.