Reliability and utility of the Acute Care Index of Function in intensive care patients: An observational study

• The Acute Care Index of Function (ACIF) was developed for neurological patients.
• The ACIF is highly reliable for measuring physical function in ICU patients.
• The ACIF is valid in ICU, being closely correlated with the ICU Mobility Scale.
• The ACIF strongly predicts the likelihood of discharge home from hospital.
• The ACIF may be a useful in the core set of outcome measures for ICU survivors.

ObjectivesTo establish the inter-rater reliability of the Acute Care Index of Function (ACIF) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and determine whether ACIF scores have predictive utility beyond ICU discharge.BackgroundAccurate and reliable measures of physical function are required to describe the recovery trajectory of ICU survivors. The clinimetric properties of the ACIF are yet to be established in ICU patients.MethodsProspective observational study in a single tertiary ICU. ACIF scores were recorded independently by 2 physiotherapists across a convenience sample of 100 physiotherapy assessments, and at ICU discharge.ResultsInter-rater reliability of total ACIF scores was very strong (ICC = 0.94). ACIF <0.40 at ICU discharge predicted hospital discharge to a destination other than home (area under ROC = 0.79, 95% CI 0.64–0.89) (sensitivity 0.78).ConclusionThe ACIF has excellent inter-rater reliability in ICU patients and scores at ICU discharge predict the likelihood of discharge home.Trial registrationACTRN12614001008617 (September 18 2014).