Fig. 1

Patients features in the ICU during nalbuphine or sufentanil infusion. (A) Pain intensity in ICU patients receiving nalbuphine or sufentanil at different time points (mean ± SD). Pain intensity was evaluated by CPOT. There was no significant difference between groups (GEE, P > 0.05). (B) Sedation/restlessness intensity in ICU patients receiving nalbuphine or sufentanil at different time points. Sedation/restlessness intensity was evaluated by RASS. Nalbuphine showed a better sedative effect than that of sufentanil (GEE, P = 0.037) (C) Heart rate of ICU patients at different time points during nalbuphine or sufentanil infusion. There was no significant difference between groups (GEE, P > 0.05). (D) SpO2 of ICU patients at different time points during nalbuphine or sufentanil infusion. No significant difference was observed between groups (GEE, P > 0.05). (E) SBP and (F) DBP of ICU patients receiving nalbuphine or sufentanil at different time points. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. The P-value was calculated using the generalized estimating equation method. Abbreviation: CPOT Critical Care Pain Observation Tool, RASS Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, SpO₂ oxygen saturation, SBP systolic blood pressure, DBP diastolic blood pressure