Bodily pain in survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome: A 1-year longitudinal follow-up study

Purpose: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors frequently experience bodily pain during recovery after the intensive care unit. Longitudinal course, risk factors and associations with physical and neuropsychological health is lacking. Methods: We collected self-reported pain using the Short Form-36 Bodily Pain (SF-36 BP) scale, normalized for sex and age (range: 0–100; higher score = less pain), along with physical and mental health measures in a multi-center, prospective cohort of 826 ARDS survivors at 6- and 12-month follow-up. We examined baseline and ICU variables' associations with pain via separate unadjusted regression models. Results: Pain prevalence (SF-36 BP ≤40) was 45% and 42% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Among 706 patients with both 6- and 12-month data, 34% reported pain at both timepoints. Pre-ARDS employment was associated with less pain at 6-months (mean difference (standard error), 5.7 (0.9), p < 0.001) and 12-months (6.3 (0.9), p < 0.001); smoking history was associated with greater pain (−5.0 (0.9), p < 0.001, and − 5.4 (1.0), p < 0.001, respectively). In-ICU opioid use was associated with greater pain (−6.3 (2.7), p = 0.02, and − 7.3 (2.8), p = 0.01, respectively). At 6 months, 174 (22%) patients reported co-occurring pain, depression and anxiety, and 227 (33%) reported co-occurring pain and impaired physical function. Conclusion: Nearly half of ARDS survivors reported bodily pain at 6- and 12-month follow-up; one-third reported pain at both time points. Pre-ARDS unemployment, smoking history, and in-ICU opioid use may identify patients who report greater pain during recovery. Given its frequent co-occurrence, clinicians should manage both physical and neuropsychological issues when pain is reported.