【Abstract】Abstract Objective To analyze the influence of post-intensive care unit (ICU) syndrome on symptom recovery, functional status and quality of life in elderly patients with severe pneumonia. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 155 elderly patients with severe pneumonia who were admitted to ICU and successfully transferred from January 2020 to July 2023 by systematic sampling method. On the day of ICU transfer and at 4 weeks after ICU transfer, the occurrence of post-ICU syndrome was judged by evaluating whether the cognitive, psychological and physiological functions were aggravated, and the patients were divided into post-ICU syndrome positive group and negative group. The disappearance times of clinical symptoms and lung function [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF%)] and quality of life [Short-Form 36-item Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36)] at 4 weeks after ICU transfer were compared between the two groups. SPSS 24.0 software was used for data analysis, and enumeration data were analyzed by chi-square test, and mean data were detected by t test. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the risk factors of post-ICU syndrome in elderly patients with severe pneumonia. Results 148 effective questionnaires were collected from 155 elderly patients with severe pneumonia, with an effective recovery rate of 95.48%. There were 69 cases in post-ICU syndrome positive group and 79 cases in negative group. There were no statistical differences in the fever abatement time and the disappearance times of cough, expectoration and lung rales between the two groups of elderly patients with severe pneumonia (P>0.05). Logistic regression equation showed that age>70 years old [OR=2.373, 95%CI (1.173-4.800), P<0.05], APACHE II score≥ 20 points on the day of ICU admission [OR=3.547, 95%CI (2.123-5.925), P<0.05], and ICU stay≥10 d [OR=2.992, 95%CI (1.644-5.446), P<0.05] were risk factors of post-ICU syndrome in elderly patients with severe pneumonia. The FEV1, FVC, PEF%, and scores of physical health and mental health of SF-36 in positive group were lower than those in negative group at 4 weeks after ICU transfer (P<0.05). Conclusion The risk of post-ICU syndrome is high in elderly patients with severe pneumonia who are older, critically ill when admitted to ICU, and have longer ICU stay. Post-ICU syndrome can cause a decline in lung function and quality of life of patients, and it is necessary to formulate clinical prevention and control measures.