ABCDEF Bundle and Supportive ICU Care Practices for patients with COVID-19 infection: An international point prevalence study ~The ISIIC Study~

Liu, Keibun Nakamura Kensuke Katsukawa Hajime Elhadi Muhammed Nydahl Peter Ely Eugene Wesley Kudchadkar Sapna Takahashi Kunihiko Inoue Shigeaki Lefor Alan Kawarai Kesecioglu Jozef Nishida Osamu

Background: Although the number of patients with COVID-19 infection is increasing and concerns for their long-term disabilities are increasing, there is a lack of data about the delivery of the ABCDEF-bundle and supportive care in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The aim of this study is to investigate the implementation of the ABCDEF-bundle and supportive care provided to patients with COVID-19 infections in ICUs. Methods: This was a world-wide two-day point prevalence study, on June 3 and July 1, 2020. A total of 212 ICUs in 38 countries (166 ICUs on Day 1 and 212 on Day 2) participated. Clinicians in each participating ICU completed web-based online surveys. The implementation rate for elements of the ABCDEF-bundle, other supportive ICU care measures and implementation associated structures were investigated. RESULTS Data for 262 patients was collected during the two-day study. Of patients included, 124 (47.3%) underwent mechanical ventilation (MV) and 12 (4.6%) patients were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The proportion of patients with implementation of each element was: Element A (regular pain assessment) 45%;B (both spontaneous awakening and breathing trials) 28%;C (regular sedation assessment) 52%;D (regular delirium assessment) 38%;E (early mobility and exercise) 47%;and F (family engagement and empowerment) 16%. The implementation of element E for patients on MV was 16% and ECMO was 17%. Supportive care, such as providing protein throughout the ICU stay (under 1.2g/kg for more than 50% of the patients) and introduction of an ICU diary (25%) was inadequate. A higher implementation rate of elements A and D were recognized in ICUs with specific protocols for ICU care and lower numbers of ICU beds exclusively for patients with COVID-19 infection. Element E was implemented at a higher rate in ICUs with more ICU beds for patients with COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS This worldwide two-day point prevalence study found low implementation of the ABCDEF-bundle. Specific protocols and the number of ICU beds reserved for patients with COVID-19 infections might be key factors to deliver appropriate supportive care.Trial registration: UMIN, UMIN000040405. Registered 14 May 2020, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000046103