CPAx: Evaluating recovery from critical illness
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool (CPAx): Validation and evaluation of a score to grade physical recovery from critical illness.
IRAS ID
136345
Contact name
Evelyn J Corner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Critical illness is catastrophic, even for survivors the consequences can lead to long-term physical and psychological morbidity. This manifests as disabling muscle wasting and functional decline. Hence, optimisation of recovery is increasingly important as more and more patients are surviving. The neuromuscular effects are known as Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness (ICU-AW).
Despite the importance of addressing ICU-AW, only in the past 5 years has research into the efficacy of ICU rehabilitation evolved into a credible evidence base. However, within the literature there is inconsistency in the functional outcomes used, making study comparison difficult. Hence, there is more work to be done; there is little information about how to evaluate disability in ICU-AW and optimal treatment techniques.
To address this we developed and established proof of concept of the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool (CPAx) in 2010. CPAx is a composite of 10 commonly assessed components of physical function graded on a six point Guttman Scale from dependence to independence.
This project is a mixed method study. The primary aim is to develop the CPAx as a tool for improving rehabilitation in ICU. This includes patient questionnaires and interviews to analysis the impact of the CPAx on patient experience.
However, the main component of this study is an observational cohort study to look at the responsive of the CPAx over time and its correlation with three other newly developed functional measures for ICU. This will involve scoring patients on admission to ICU, ICU discharge, hospital discharge, and at one month follow up on these measures. This will allow us to explore how these tools detect change over time and help us to establish which functional scale is the most sensitive for use in future interventional research studies.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1027
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion