Loneliness and social standing may decide who bounces back after the ICU
NCT ID NCT07828301
First seen Sep 18, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026
Summary
Many people survive a stay in the intensive care unit but then face lasting problems with thinking, mood, and physical function, a group of conditions called post-intensive care syndrome. Researchers in Chile are following 400 adults who needed a ventilator for at least two days, checking them at discharge and again at 3, 6, and 12 months. The study measures social factors such as loneliness, social support, and perceived social position, along with biomarkers and ICU treatments, to see how these relate to recovery patterns. The goal is to understand who is most at risk and what kinds of support might help survivors rebuild their lives.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If social factors predict who struggles most after intensive care, hospitals could target support such as loneliness screening or social work referrals to help survivors recover.
- What could go wrong
- This observational study cannot prove that social factors cause worse recovery, only that they are linked. Findings from 400 patients in Chile may not apply to other countries or health systems.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 400 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2025
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Patients aged 18 years or older with critical illness who have been on a ventilator for at least 48 hours will be invited to participate in the study.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients 18 years of age or older * Patients with critical illness who have been on a ventilator for at least 48 hours Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of mental or intellectual disability before hospitalization * Early limitation of therapeutic effort * Primary neurological injury (e.g., anoxic injury, stroke, or traumatic brain injury) * Anticipated death within 3 months of discharge (e.g., recommended palliative care) * Uncontrolled psychiatric illness at hospital admission * Communication limitations (e.g., does not speak Spanish) * Unlikely to adhere to follow-up (e.g., no fixed address, difficult to locate at follow-up)
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Get notified about this study
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Clínica San Carlos de Apoquindo
RECRUITINGSantiago, Chile
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Complejo Asistencial Dr. Sótero del Rio
RECRUITINGSantiago, Chile
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Hospital Biprovincial de Quillota
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGQuillota, Chile
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Hospital Clínico UC Christus
RECRUITINGSantiago, Chile
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Hospital Las Higueras
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGTalcahuano, Chile
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Virtual reality games aim to boost brain power after ICU