Severe and early quadriceps weakness in mechanically ventilated patients

Table 1 Patient characteristics at baseline

Demographics
Males/females, number	8/5
Age, years	71 ± 9
Body mass index, kg/m²	25 ± 4
Arterial blood gases
PaO₂, mm Hg	82 ± 34
PaCO₂, mm Hg	41 ± 8
pH	7.43 ± 0.08
SaO₂, percentage	95 ± 2
ICU admission
Cardiac surgery ICU	9 (69%)
Respiratory ICU	4 (31%)
Comorbidities
COPD	8 (62%)
Hypertension	11 (85%)
Hypothyroid	3 (23%)
Dyslipidemia	8 (62%)
Diabetes mellitus	4 (31%)
Risk factor for polyneuropathy
Mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours	12 (85%)
Suboptimal glucose control^a	11 (85%)
Steroids	5 (38%)
Septic shock	6 (46%)
Neuromuscular blocker	5 (38%)
Risk factors, mean	3 ± 1
Duration of hospitalization before strength assessment, days	7 ± 4
Sedation condition, RASS score	-3.8 ± 1.5

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or as number (percentage). ^aSuboptimal glucose control is defined as repeated measurements of capillary or venous glucose measurements above 10 mmol/L (at least two consecutives). COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PaCO₂, arterial pressure in carbon dioxide; PaO₂, arterial pressure in oxygen; RASS, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale; SaO₂, arterial saturation in oxygen.

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