Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life After ICU: Importance of Patient Demographics, Previous Comorbidity, and Severity of Illness

Objectives: ICU survivors frequently report reduced health-related quality of life, but the relative importance of preillness versus acute illness factors in survivor populations is not well understood. We aimed to explore health-related quality of life trajectories over 12 months following ICU discharge, patterns of improvement, or deterioration over this period, and the relative importance of demographics (age, gender, social deprivation), preexisting health (Functional Comorbidity Index), and acute illness severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, ventilation days) as determinants of health-related quality of life and relevant patient-reported symptoms during the year following ICU discharge. Design: Nested cohort study within a previously published randomized controlled trial. Setting: Two ICUs in Edinburgh, Scotland. Patients: Adult ICU survivors (n = 240) who required more than 48 hours of mechanical ventilation. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: We prospectively collected data for age, gender, social deprivation (Scottish index of multiple deprivation), preexisting comorbidity (Functional Comorbidity Index), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and days of mechanical ventilation. Health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form version 2 Physical Component Score and Mental Component Score) and patient-reported symptoms (appetite, fatigue, pain, joint stiffness, and breathle...
Source: Critical Care Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Clinical Investigations Source Type: research