Complication(s)	Possible causes	Evaluation
Weakness	Anemia, critical illness myopathy or polyneuropathy, muscle atrophy, inadequate nutrition, drug therapy	CBC, iron panel, serum chemistries, serial body weight measurement, physical therapy, neurology consultation
Fatigue	Anemia, insomnia, depression, muscle atrophy, poor nutrition, drug therapy	CBC, iron panel, serum chemistries, serial body weight measurements, physical therapy, sleep/depression questionnaire
Shortness of breath	Pulmonary fibrosis or scarring after acute lung injury, anemia, neuropathy, muscle atrophy, psychological factors, worsening pre-ICU pulmonary or cardiovascular disease	Imaging study (e.g., chest radiography, chest computed tomography) if warranted, CBC, iron panel, reticulocyte count, pulmonary function tests, electrocardiography, echocardiography
Mobility issues	Critical illness myopathy or polyneuropathy, joint pain, joint stiffness, muscle weakness	Physical therapy, neurology consultation
Stridor	Tracheal stenosis	Magnetic resonance imaging of neck or upper endoscopy
Reduced appetite	Altered taste, swallowing difficulties, weakness of pharyngeal muscles, psychological condition precluding patients from feeding themselves	Swallowing study
Peripheral neuropathy, numbness, paresthesia	Critical illness polyneuropathy, iatrogenic cause (e.g., needle injury)	Neurology consultation, electromyography/nerve conduction velocity studies
Hair loss	Telogen effluvium secondary to severe weight loss or major illness	Thyroid-stimulating hormone, CBC, ferritin, and antinuclear antibody testing to rule out other causes
Amenorrhea	Hypothalamic amenorrhea secondary to severe weight loss or major illness	Monitor levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, and human chorionic gonadotropin
Depressed mood	PTSD, major depressive disorder, familial anxiety or depression, frustration about slow recovery, drug therapy	Depression screening tool (e.g., Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale)
Anxiety	Generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD	Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item scale
Insomnia	PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders	Sleep/depression questionnaire
Impaired memory, poor concentration, nightmares, hallucinations, distressing flashbacks, hyperarousal	PTSD	Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale