Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41573125›Full record

ReviewCritical care research and practice2026

Impact of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Biological Markers in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Amanda de Oliveira Santos, Matheus Cardoso Santos, Maíra Avila Fontes Trindade, Danielle Alves de Andrade Rebouças, Carlos José Oliveira de Matos, Fernanda Oliveira de Carvalho, Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho, Érika Ramos Silva

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Critical care research and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Amanda de Oliveira SantosPostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3729-4674
Matheus Cardoso SantosCentre for Robotics & Intelligent Systems (CRIS), University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Munster, Ireland, ul.ie.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0246-9297
Maíra Avila Fontes TrindadePostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6268-3308
Danielle Alves de Andrade RebouçasPostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6648-4090
Carlos José Oliveira de MatosPostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2168-7839
Fernanda Oliveira de CarvalhoPostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1270-406X
Paulo Ricardo Martins-FilhoPostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8779-0727
Érika Ramos SilvaPostgraduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Gov. Marcelo Déda, Lagarto, 49400-000, Sergipe, Brazil, ufs.br.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0634-976X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been increasingly used to preserve or restore neuromuscular function in critically ill patients. However, its effects on inflammatory biomarkers and its safety require to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to analyze the available evidence on the impact of NMES on biological markers in critically ill patients. Methods: This systematic review followed a preregistered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42023424413). A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NMES with control interventions and reporting outcomes related to biological markers. Results: Ten RCTs were included in this review. Meta-analyses revealed a significant acute increase in interleukin-10 levels (SMD: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.11 to 1.08; Conclusions: Available evidence suggests that NMES can modulate systemic inflammation in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, with early anti-inflammatory effects (IL-10 elevation) and subsequent attenuation of inflammation (CRP reduction). These findings support the safety of NMES during active phases of critical illness. Further high-quality RCTs are warranted to standardize stimulation protocols, characterize biomarker dynamics, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms to guide evidence-based clinical use.

Indexed as

biomarkerscritical carecritical illnesselectric stimulationhospitalizationintensive care unitmeta-analysissystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41573125
PMCPMC12820417

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.