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PICSPICS-DACHNCT07290712

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome - Multicentre Prospective Registry Database of the DACH Region

An observational study of PICS and PICS-F, run by Medical University of Vienna at 4 sites in 2 countries.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to long-term cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments that can arise after intensive care treatment. These symptoms may begin within 24 hours of ICU admission and persist for years. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
PICS, PICS-F
How many people
5,000 participants
Where
4 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
4 Feb 2026to 1 Nov 2035
How long will I take part?
5 Years
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Intensive care unit patients

Who may be able to join

  • Patients with an ICU stay longer than 72 hours will be included

Who cannot join

  • Age < 18 years old
  • Patients who receive end-of-life care at the time of screening

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 2 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

PICS-DACH Steering Committee contact

+4314040041020

pics-dach-sc@listserv.muv.ac.at

Study Coordination AAI MUV contact

aai-research@muv.ac.at

4 sites in 2 countries

Germany3 sites, 3 recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum Augsburg

    Augsburg, Bavaria, 86156

    Philipp Simon, MD, philipp.simon3@uk-augsburg.de

    Manfred Weiss, MD, manfred.weiss@uk-augsburg.de

    Recruiting
  • Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Berlin, State of Berlin, 13353

    Claudia Spies, MD, +49 30 450 531 012, claudia.spies@charite.de

    Claudia Denke, Dr., claudia. denke@ charite. de

    Recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum Würzburg

    Würzburg, Bavaria, 97080

    Patrick Meybohm, MD, meybohm_p@ukw.de

    Christian Stoppe, MD, stoppe_c@ukw.de

    Not yet recruiting

Other trials in Germany

Austria1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Medical University of Vienna

    Vienna, State of Vienna, 1090

    Stefan J Schaller, MD, +4314040041020, aai-research@meduniwien.ac.at

    Marion Wiegele, MD

    Recruiting

Other trials in Austria

About this study

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to long-term cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments that can arise after intensive care treatment. These symptoms may begin within 24 hours of ICU admission and persist for years. Affected patients and their families (PICS-F) face significant burdens, with up to 94% of relatives impacted. Given its high prevalence and socioeconomic impact, this prospective registry study aims to identify risk factors and long-term consequences of PICS and PICS-F.

The study consists of six modules, starting with data collection during ICU stays and continuing with follow-ups at various intervals post-discharge (up to five years). The primary goal is to investigate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, while secondary objectives include identifying risk factors, determining impairment severity, and exploring biological mechanisms. Standardized questionnaires and biological samples (blood) are used for data collection.

Read the detailed description

BACKGROUND Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to newly occurring or intensified cognitive, physical, and psychological long-term effects, as well as pain and socioeconomic effects resulting from intensive care treatment. Symptoms can appear as early as 24 hours after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and persist for 5-15 years after discharge. The rate of affected individuals is very high. Three months after discharge due to an illness requiring intensive care, 64% of survivors were impaired in at least one of the three functional areas, and 56% were impaired after 12 months. The hospitalization of a close relative in the ICU affects the entire family system, i.e., all people with whom the patients have a significant relationship. The effects on the family or relatives are referred to as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family (PICS-F), which represents a significant burden for up to 94% of relatives. PICS and PICS-F are therefore of high socioeconomic importance.

RELEVANCE Given the significant impact of PICS on patients, their families, and the socioeconomic system, gaining insights into the prevalence of risk factors and PICS criteria during ICU stay, as well as PICS and PICS-F after ICU discharge and hospital release, is highly valuable.

DESIGN

The study is divided into the following six modules:

  1. ICU module
  2. Post-ICU module 2: a) 1-3 months + 6 months, b) 1, 2, 5 years
  3. Environment module
  4. Psychiatry module
  5. Translational module
  6. Family system module (PICS-F) The participating centers take part in at least the first module, the ICU module, in which the risk factors and PICS as well as PICS-F domains are recorded during the intensive care stay. Depending on local conditions, capacity, and resources, the participating centers optionally participate in modules 2 to 6. In the individual modules, there is also the option of participating in a mode available to all centers or specialized for individual centers (e.g., functional tests that can only be performed in a PICS outpatient clinic (PICA)). For centers without PICA, follow-up observation is carried out, for example, via questionnaires. The corresponding mode of participation with and without PICA is displayed accordingly in the individual modules.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

  • The primary objective of the prospective registry is to record and investigate the risk factors, diagnostic and therapeutic options for PICS and PICS-F.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES

  • Recording the frequency of multiple risk factors for and the manifestation of PICS and PICS-F during and after treatment in an intensive care unit.
  • Recording the rate of risk factors, especially the modifiable risk factors of PICS in different disease entities, such as sepsis, delirium, and other underlying diseases requiring intensive care.
  • Determination of cut-off values and rates of significant cognitive, physical and psychological impairments as well as pain.
  • Assessment of the significance for PICS between and within individual dimensions of PICS.
  • Estimation of incidence based on risk factors or different cut-off values for scores to define significant limitations at the cognitive, physical and psychological levels as well as chronic pain.
  • Determination and investigation of the influence of relevant external and internal environmental factors that contribute to the development and course of PICS/PICS-F.
  • Identification of molecular biological or pathophysiological processes of PICS.

PROCEDURE

  1. Examination using standardized questionnaires during intensive care. The aim is to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain (= PICS and PICS-F rates) while still in the intensive care unit. The patient and their relatives and friends are interviewed.
  2. Follow-up examination using standardized questionnaires in the PICS outpatient clinic 1-3 and 6 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. The aim of these appointments is to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain.
  3. Completion of standardized questionnaires to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain (1, 2, and 5 years after discharge from the intensive care unit; this can be done by telephone, electronically, by mail, via telemedicine, or in PICA).
  4. Blood samples for the creation of a biobank (depending on follow-up appointments at the PICS study outpatient clinic: 4-7x 27ml each; timing: during ICU (inclusion (> 72h ICU stay) and ICU discharge), 1-3 months, 6 months and, if applicable, 1, 2, and 5 years after ICU discharge.
Conditions
PICS, PICS-F
Keywords
PICS, PICS-F, ICU, Intensive Care Unit, Critical Care, Critical Illness, Post Intensive Care Syndrome, Post Intensive Care Syndrome Family
Medical subject headings
Critical Illness, postintensive care syndrome

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Diagnosis of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)

    Frequency of PICS diagnosis defined as the presence of at least one new or worsened impairment in one of the PICS domains (number/percentage)

    Measured: up to 5 years

Secondary outcomes (34)
  1. Frequency of PICS sub-domains

    Frequency of diagnosis of PICS-subdomains

    Measured: up to 5 years

  2. Frailty status

    Frailty status assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS; score 1-9, higher scores indicate worse frailty).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  3. Post-Intensive Care Syndrome symptoms assessed by the PICS Questionnaire (PICSq)

    PICS symptoms assessed by the PICSq (validated questionnaire 0-45 points; higher scores indicate greater impairment).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  4. Physical function assessed by the Barthel Index

    Change in activities of daily living, assessed by the Barthel Index (score 0-100; higher scores indicate better function).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  5. Physical function assessed by the Timed Up-and-Go Test

    Change in mobility, assessed by the Timed Up-and-Go(time in seconds; longer times indicate worse performance).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  6. Physical function assessed by Handgrip Strength

    Muscle strength, assessed by handgrip dynamometry (maximum grip strength in kg; higher values indicate better function).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  7. Physical function assessed by the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)

    6MWT (distance walked in meters; higher values indicate better function).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  8. Physical function assessed by the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT)

    ´2MWT (distance walked in meters; higher values indicate better function).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  9. Physical function assessed by the SPPB

    Physical function, assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB, score 0-12; higher scores indicate better performance).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  10. Nutritional status assessed by the MNA

    Nutritional status, assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA, score 0-30; higher scores indicate better nutritional status).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  11. Health-related quality of life assessed by EQ-5D-5L

    Health-related quality of life, assessed by the EQ-5D-5L (index score; higher values indicate better quality of life).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  12. Disability assessed by the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)

    Disability, assessed by the WHODAS 2.0, with higher scores indicating greater disability.

    Measured: up to 5 years

  13. Cognitive function assessed by the MiniCog

    Cognitive function, assessed by the MiniCog (score 0-5; higher scores indicate better cognition).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  14. Cognitive function assessed by the Animal Naming Test

    Verbal fluency, assessed by the Animal Naming Test (number of animals named in 60 seconds; higher values indicate better cognition).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  15. Cognitive function assessed by the RBANS

    Cognition, assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS; higher scores indicate better cognition).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  16. Cognitive function assessed by the TMT

    Executive function, assessed by the Trail Making Test (TMT A and B, completion time in seconds; longer times indicate worse performance).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  17. Depression assessed by the PHQ

    Depression severity, assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ, higher scores indicate worse depression).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  18. Anxiety assessed by the GAD

    Anxiety severity, assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD, higher scores indicate worse anxiety).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  19. PTSD symptoms assessed by the IES-R

    Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, assessed by the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R; higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  20. Pain assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire

    Pain severity, assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (higher scores indicate worse pain).

    Measured: up to 5 years

  21. Frequency of dysphagia

    Frequency of clinically diagnosed swallowing disorder (number / percentage)

    Measured: up to 5 years

  22. Work ability and disability days

    Change in employment status and number of disability days from baseline to 5 years, assessed by self-report (more disability days indicate worse outcome).

    Measured: 5 years

  23. Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care utilization

    Use of psychiatric or psychotherapeutic services (yes/no), assessed from baseline to 5 years.

    Measured: 5 years

  24. Noise annoyance assessed by the 11-point numeric noise-annoyance scale

    Change in noise annoyance from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the 11-point numeric scale (0-10; higher scores indicate higher annoyance).

    Measured: 5 years

  25. Noise annoyance assessed by the 5-point verbal scale

    Change in noise annoyance from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the 5-point verbal scale (1-5; higher scores indicate higher annoyance).

    Measured: 5 years

  26. Noise sensitivity assessed by the LEF-K questionnaire

    Change in noise sensitivity from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the LEF-K (higher scores indicate greater sensitivity).

    Measured: 5 years

  27. ICU environmental exposure measured by HIAwear/Sensorbox

    Change in ICU environmental exposure from baseline to 5 years, measured continuously with HIAwear/Sensorbox (parameters include noise, light, particulate matter, temperature, humidity; higher values indicate greater exposure).

    Measured: 5 years

  28. Atmospheric environmental exposure (ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter)

    Change in atmospheric exposure from baseline to 5 years, assessed by pollutant concentrations (O3, NO, NO2, NOx, CO, PM1, PM2.5, PM10; higher values indicate greater exposure).

    Measured: 5 years

  29. Anxiety and depression in relatives assessed by the HADS

    Change in anxiety and depression symptoms of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the HADS (score 0-21; higher scores indicate worse symptoms).

    Measured: 5 years

  30. Post-traumatic stress in relatives assessed by the IES-R

    Change in PTSD symptoms of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the IES-R (higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms).

    Measured: 5 years

  31. Work ability of relatives

    Change in work status and disability days of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by self-report (more disability days indicate worse outcome).

    Measured: 5 years

  32. Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care utilization by relatives

    Use of psychiatric or psychotherapeutic services (yes/no), assessed in relatives from baseline to 5 years.

    Measured: 5 years

  33. Body resistance (R)

    Body resistance (R) measured by BIA (Body impedance analysis)

    Measured: up to 5 years

  34. Body reactance (Xc)

    Body reactance (Xc) measured by BIA (Body impedance analysis)

    Measured: up to 5 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Dec 2025
  2. Study start4 Feb 2026
  3. Primary completion1 Nov 2030 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Nov 2035 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
5,000 participants (estimated)
Target duration
5 Years
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07290712
Sponsor's protocol ID
PICS-DACH
Acronym
PICS-DACH
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
29 Sep 2025
Last updated
25 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes

Publications

  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.

    PubMed 11556941
  • Jeong YJ, Kang J. Development and validation of a questionnaire to measure post-intensive care syndrome. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2019 Dec;55:102756. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2019.102756. Epub 2019 Sep 12.

    PubMed 31522829
  • Rockwood K, Song X, MacKnight C, Bergman H, Hogan DB, McDowell I, Mitnitski A. A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people. CMAJ. 2005 Aug 30;173(5):489-95. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.050051.

    PubMed 16129869

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of PICS and PICS-F, run by Medical University of Vienna at 4 sites in 2 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in Germany, Austria. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact PICS-DACH Steering Committee (+4314040041020, pics-dach-sc@listserv.muv.ac.at), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Diagnosis of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) (time frame: up to 5 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07290712, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Aug 2026.

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