Abstract: Objective: To explore the effectiveness and safety of implementing a progressive early activity plan based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health(ICF) concept for ICU mechanically ventilated patients, so as to provide a reference plan for early activity of ICU mechanically ventilated patients. Methods: Totally sixty eight mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the intensive care department of a tertiary grade A comprehensive hospital in Hunan province from January to November 2022 were recruited and randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. The control group carried out routine nursing care and functional exercises for ICU mechanically ventilated patients, while the intervention group received a progressive early activity plan based on the ICF concept, which included physical function training, daily activity training, and environmental sound and light control. The mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay time, muscle strength, incidence of lower limb deep vein thrombosis, delirium, ICU acquired weakness, adverse events, and potential incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups of patients. Results: The intervention group had less mechanical ventilation time and ICU hospitalization time than the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of delirium and ICU acquired weakness in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The intervention group had higher muscle strength than the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). The potential incidence of adverse events in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The progressive early activity program based on the ICF concept is an effective and safe intervention program that can shorten the mechanical ventilation time and ICU hospitalization time of ICU patients, prevent delirium and ICU acquired weakness, and improve patient muscle strength. At the same time, ICU medical staff need to pay attention to the prevention of potential adverse events during early activity of mechanically ventilated patients to ensure the safety of early activity implementation.

Key words: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; critical illness; mechanical ventilation; early activities