The effect of early mobilization in critically ill patients: A meta‐analysis

Background The aim of this meta‐analysis was to assess if early mobilization and rehabilitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) could reduce ICU‐acquired weakness (ICU‐AW), improve functional recovery, improve muscle strength, shorten the length of ICU and hospital stays, and reduce the mortality rate. Methods A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed (Chinese BioMedical Literature Service System, China), and National Knowledge Infrastructure, China (CNKI) was performed. Results were expressed as a risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) or weight mean difference (WMD) with 95% CIs. Pooled estimates were calculated using a fixed‐effects or random‐effects model according to the heterogeneity among studies. Results Fifteen randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1941 patients were included in this meta‐analysis. Pooled estimates suggested that early mobilization significantly reduced the incidence of ICU‐AW (RR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.91; P = .025), shortened the length of ICU (WMD = −1.82 days, 95% CI: −2.88, −0.76; P = .001) and hospital (WMD = −3.90 days, 95% CI: −5.94, −1.85; P