Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor Caregiver Version (HABC-M CG): An Informant-Based Screening Tool for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in intensive care unit survivors, pointing to the potential utility of a caregiver-based tool to screen for post-intensive care syndrome.

Objective: To validate the Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor, Caregiver Version (HABC-M CG), as a caregiver-based tool to screen for post-intensive care syndrome.

Methods: A total of 116 patients who survived a stay in the intensive care unit completed standardized assessments of cognition, psychological symptoms, and physical functioning, and their caregivers completed the HABC-M CG. The Cronbach α was used to measure the internal consistency of the scale items. Validity of the HABC-M CG versus comparison tests was measured using the Spearman rank correlation. Generalized linear models were used to adjust for age, sex, and education level.

Results: The total scale and all subscales of the HABC-M CG showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.88-0.93). Scores on the psychological subscale correlated with standardized measures of depressive symptoms (Spearman ρ = 0.58). Scores on the cognitive subscale correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination score (Spearman ρ = -0.33). Scores on the functional subscale correlated with scores on the Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (Spearman ρ = -0.36).

Conclusion: The HABC-M CG is a valid informant-based clinical tool for the assessment of symptoms of post- intensive care syndrome.