Determinants of caregiver burden among family caregivers of post-intensive care syndrome patients at 2 weeks post-discharge: a cross-sectional study

With improved intensive care unit (ICU) survival rates, the number of patients with post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is on the rise. The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) recommends screening within 2–4 weeks post-discharge. However, in China, most ICU survivors rely on family caregivers, while data on caregiver burden specifically at 2 weeks post-discharge remain scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the factors influencing family caregiver burden in PICS patients 2 weeks after hospital discharge. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the intensive care unit (from March 2024 to June 2025). Consecutive patients with post-intensive care syndrome and their primary family caregivers were included 14 days after discharge. Potential predictive factors were collected using a self-made standardized questionnaire and the Zarit Burden Interview Scale. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the severity of caregiver burden. Conducted at a tertiary hospital from March 2024 to June 2025, the study included 299 patient-primary caregiver pairs. Using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the median caregiver burden score was 38.0 (IQR:25.0, 52.0), with 26.1% reporting minimal/no burden, 34.1% mild to moderate, 25.4% moderate to severe, and 14.4% severe burden. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression identified seven independent risk factors: caregiver age ≤ 45 years (OR = 3.196, 95% CI = 1.351–7.591), rural residence (OR = 2.894, 95% CI = 1.089–7.723), Dedicated care 2 weeks after ICU (OR = 6.844, 95% CI = 3.029–15.482), patient not returning to work (OR = 3.019, 95% CI = 1.459–6.251), caregiver cohabiting with spouse and children (OR = 6.758, 95% CI = 1.166–39.200), presence of other stressors (OR = 2.228, 95% CI = 1.155–4.305), and caregiver cohabiting with the patient (OR = 3.116, 95% CI = 1.483–6.546). Protective factors included caregiver being married/cohabiting, patient’s ICU stay ≤ 30 days, first ICU admission, and prognosis aligning with expectations (all p < 0.05). Two weeks post-discharge, family caregivers of PICS patients predominantly bear mild to moderate burden; multivariate analysis identifies key risk and protective factors, addressing the gap in early-stage evidence and providing a basis for targeted clinical interventions. ChiCTR2500100968 ( https://www.chictr.org.cn ); retrospectively registered on April 17, 2025.