A pilot study on coexisting symptoms in intensive care patients.

Little is known about the symptoms of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This pilot study prospectively evaluated the perceptions on nine symptoms (pain, dyspnea, thirst, nausea, hunger, tiredness, anxiety, generalized discomfort, and depressed feelings) of ICU patients receiving ventilation and examined their relationships. Patients' symptoms were assessed by a numeric rating scale. The study found that many symptoms existed at substantial levels and that there was evidence of association among symptoms. It suggests that attention to the multiple symptoms that ICU patients experience is needed to improve their overall comfort. Further research is needed to evaluate and validate the relationships among these symptoms and their impact on the health outcomes of ICU patients.