eISSN 2097-6046
ISSN 2096-7446
CN 10-1655/R
Responsible Institution:China Association for Science and Technology
Sponsor:Chinese Nursing Association

Chinese Journal of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing ›› 2026, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (5): 524-531.doi: 10.3761/j.issn.2096-7446.2026.05.002

• Research Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The effects of combined abdominal breathing and resistance exercise program on preventing delirium in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation

LI Changxin1(), CHEN Yingxue2, LUO Chenjuan1, ZHENG Wangmin1, LIN Ruyu3, CHEN Qiaoling4,*()   

  1. 1 Department of Critical Care MedicineNanping First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University,NanpingFujian Province 353000, China
    2 Nursing DepartmentNanping First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University,NanpingFujian Prorince 353000, China
    3 Nursing DepartmentPutian First Hospital,PutianFujian Province 351100, China
    4 Fujian Medical University Provincial Clinical Medical CollegeFuzhou 350000, China
  • Received:2025-05-30 Online:2026-05-10 Published:2026-04-28
  • Contact: *CHEN Qiaoling,E-mail:920525859@qq.com
  • Supported by:
    Nanping Natural Science Foundation Project(N2023J018)

Abstract:

Objective To explore the application effects of the combined limb and abdominal breathing resistance exercise program in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation. Methods From September 2023 to September 2024,192 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation treatment in the general ICU of two tertiary grade A hospitals in Nanping City,Fujian Province,were selected as the research subjects. Using the simple random grouping method,they were divided into the combined limb and abdominal breathing resistance exercise group,the early progressive activity group,and the conventional activity group. The incidence of delirium,anxiety and depression score,sleep quality score,ICU mechanical ventilation time,and ICU hospitalization time of research subjects in the three groups were observed. Results Comparison of the incidence of delirium among the three groups of research subjects showed that the incidence in combined limb and abdominal breathing resistance exercise group was lower than the early progressive activity group and the conventional activity group(P<0.05). Comparison of anxiety and depression scores and sleep quality scores during ICU stay showed that the combined limb and abdominal breathing resistance exercise group and the early progressive activity group were lower than the conventional activity group(P<0.05). And the lengths of mechanical ventilation and ICU hospitalization in the three groups were compared,the combined limb and abdominal breathing resistance exercise group was shorter than the early progressive activity group and the conventional activity group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of limb and abdominal breathing resistance exercise can reduce the incidence of delirium in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation,improve the anxiety and depression of critically ill patients,improve the sleep quality of critically ill patients,shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU hospitalization,and is conducive to improving the clinical outcomes of critically ill patients.

Key words: Intensive Care Unit, Mechanical Ventilation, Delirium, Program, Resistance Exercise