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. 2023 May 9;49(8):1000–1004. doi: 10.1007/s00134-023-07088-7

Table 1.

Differences between trials of early mobilisation in baseline factors and early mobilisation delivery

Study Schweickert
Lancet 2009
Denehy
Crit Care 2013
Schaller
Lancet 2016
Morris
JAMA 2016
Moss
AJRCCM 2016
Wright
Thorax 2017
TEAM
NEJM 2022
Patel
Lancet Resp Med 2023
N randomised (intervention/comparison) 104 (49/55) 150 (74/76) 200 (104/96) 300 (150/150) 120 (59/61) 308 (150/158) 750 (372/378) 200 (100/100)
Location(s) United States Australia

Austria (1),

Germany (1),

United States (3)

United States United States United Kingdom

Australia (28),

New Zealand (5),

United Kingdom (8),

Ireland (4),

Germany (3),

Brazil (1)

United States
Centres 2 1 5 1 5 4 49 1
Cohort Medical Mixed Surgical Medical Medical Mixed Mixed Mixed
Enrolment dates 6/2005–10/2007 5/2007–8/2009 7/2011–11/2015 10/2009–5/2014 8/2009–10/2014 1/2012–12/2014 2/2018–11/2021 8/2011–10/2019
Age (intervention/comparison) years 57.7/54.4 61.4/60.1 66/64 55/58 61/57 60/64 60.5/59.5 57.9/54.5
Primary admission diagnosis

Sepsis 16%

Acute lung injury 55%

Pneumonia 23%

Cardiac 15.3%

Sepsis 1%

Trauma 26%

Acute respiratory failure

ARDS 30%

Pneumonia 24%

Medical 52%

Surgical 48%

Sepsis 66%

Trauma 4%

Acute respiratory failure 44%

Sepsis 14%

APACHE II (intervention/comparison) 20/19 19/20.7 16/17 76/75 (APACHE III) 17.9/17.4 19/19 18.2/18 23/23
RASS target Goal directed 1 to + 1 Goal directed No sedation protocol N/A  − 1 to + 1 Goal directed Clinician directed
Intervention Exercise and mobilisation at enrolment Exercise rehabilitation and usual care Early, goal-directed mobilisation with a facilitator to identify and address barriers Passive range of motion, physical therapy, progressive resistance Intensive physical therapy activities Intensive physical rehabilitation Sedation minimization and daily highest possible level of mobilisation Early mobilisation at enrolment
Passive/active mobilisation at 1° level/session of the intervention Passive range of motion Active bed exercises Passive range of motion Passive range of motion Active bed exercises Active bed exercises Active exercises Passive range of motion
Comparison Standard care, with physical and occupational therapy delivered as ordered by primary care team Usual care Individual centres’ practice guidelines Usual care Standardised physical therapy activities Usual care Usual care mobilisation level Usual care when ordered by primary team or on extubation
Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, days (intervention/comparison) 3.4/6.1 4.4/ 4.1 NA 7/NA 10/10 4/4 6/6 2.7/3.4
Time to first therapy, days (intervention/comparison) 1.5/7.4 (from intubation) On or after day 5 of ICU admission NA/NA 3/7 (to physical therapy) 8/8 (from initiation of mechanical ventilation) 3/3 (from enrolment; ventilated 4 days pre-randomisation) 4/7 (from ICU admission) 1.1/4.7 (from intubation)
Proportion of patients mobilised during invasive mechanical ventilation (%) (intervention/comparison) NA 42/41 NA NA NA NA 74/73 94/6
Frequency of mobilization, days per week (intervention/comparison) Daily, to hospital discharge or return to baseline function/NR 7/7 NA 7 to hospital discharge/5 7/3 (up to 28 days) 5/5 7/5 Daily, to hospital discharge or return to baseline function/NR
Duration of mobilisation, minutes per day (intervention/comparison) 19.2/0 (whilst receiving MV) ICU: 15–30 min/day: ward: 60 min/day; outpatient 2 × /week (all active)/NR 21/9 NA 39 (ICU 31.3; non-ICU 45.3)/21 (ICU 21; non-ICU 22) 23/13 (includes passive and active) 20.8/8.8 (active mobilisation) NA
Median time to mobility milestones, days (intervention/comparison) From intubation NA NA NA NA NA From randomisation From intubation
 Sitting 1.7/6.6 2/4 1.1/4.8
 Standing 3.2/6 3/5 1.3/5
 Walking 3.8/7.3 5/7 1.7/5.6

NA not available