ArticleInternational journal of nursing studies advances2026
Thirst level trajectories and influencing factors in critically ill patients based on a group-based trajectory model: A prospective observational study.
Article in International journal of nursing studies advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Thirst is widely recognized as a prevalent, severe, and often under-managed symptom in critically ill patients. Despite increased recognition of its importance in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) practice, the current management status of thirst has not substantially improved. Therefore, an urgent need exists to understand the short-term dynamics and influencing factors of thirst in this population. Objective: This study aimed to identify distinct trajectories and predictors of trajectory subgroups in critically ill patients within the initial 24 hours of ICU admission. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 at a tertiary hospital in Chengdu, China. Data were collected using a unified electronic case report form comprising three sections: general demographics, clinical characteristics, and the Critically Ill Patient's Thirst Assessment Scale. Thirst levels were assessed at five time points: upon ICU admission, and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours post-admission. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify distinct thirst trajectories, and unordered multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of trajectory subgroups. Results: A total of 209 eligible participants were included in the study. Three distinct thirst trajectories were identified: the low-level sustained group (41.8%), the moderate-level decline group (41.9%), and the high-level fluctuating group (16.3%). Key predictors associated with a higher likelihood of belonging to the moderate to high thirst trajectory groups included serum potassium and ionized calcium levels, oxygenation index, and antibiotic use. Conclusions: This study enhances the understanding of distinct thirst trajectories and the predictors associated with the moderate to high thirst trajectory subgroups. Early identification and stratification of thirst levels upon ICU admission are crucial for developing targeted management strategies to alleviate thirst distress in critically ill patients.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.