Analgosedation and delirium practices in critically ill patients in the Pan-American and Iberian setting, and factors associated with oversedation after the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the PANDEMIC study

Oversedation has adverse effects on critically ill patients. The Analgosedation and Delirium Committee of the FEPIMCTI (Pan-American and Iberian Federation of Critical Care Medicine and Intensive Care) conducted a cross-sectional study through a survey addressed to ICU physicians: PANDEMIC (Pan-American and Iberian Study on the Management of Analgosedation and Delirium in Critical Care [fepImCti]).

Hypothesis

Worsening of these practices in the course of the pandemic and that continued afterwards, with further oversedation.

Objectives

Perception of analgosedation and delirium practices in Pan-American and Iberian ICUs before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and factors associated with persistent oversedation after the pandemic.

Of the 1008 respondents, 25% perceived oversedation after the pandemic (95%CI 22.4–27.8). This perception was higher in South America (35.8%, P < .001). Main risk factor: habit acquired during the pandemic (adjusted OR [aOR] 3.16, 95%CI 2.24–4.45, P < .001). Main protective factor: delirium monitoring before the pandemic (aOR 0.70, 95%CI 0.50−0.98, P = .038).

The factors identified in this study provide a basis for targeting future interventions.