Persistent Critical Illness (IMAGE) Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Caption This graph shows that around Day 10 of an ICU stay, patients enter a state called persistent critical illness, or PerCI, where the reason they entered the hospital becomes less important than who they were before they became ill or injured. The graph is based on data from more than a million ICU patients treated in Australia and New Zealand. Credit University of Michigan/Monash University Usage Restrictions Credit University of Michigan and Monash University License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.