As many as 80% of ICU survivors have some form of cognitive or brain dysfunction, according to the Society of Critical Care Medicine. While receiving intensive care, patients often are heavily sedated and connected to a ventilator. During this time, a temporary brain injury can develop that is linked to later issues with memory and thinking. At the same time, many ICU survivors experience post-traumatic stress symptoms, including depression, prolonged muscle weakness, and fatigue.
Patients who survive sepsis are particularly vulnerable to post-ICU syndrome and about 1.4 million of them suffer from long-term disabilities, according to the Sepsis Alliance. The not-for-profit advocacy group is developing pamphlets on post-sepsis issues for patients, as well as spreading the word on social media websites