Follow-up after intensive care: a single center study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Outcomes
• Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) stays can lead to long-term health problems.
• Understanding the impact of critical illness on patients' lives is crucial for improving care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess health problems, quality of life (QOL), functional status, and memory in adult patients after ICU discharge.
• To identify areas for improved post-ICU care and patient support.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 346 adult patients discharged from a university hospital ICU.
• Quality of life assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) at 6 months.
• Functional status, recovery, and memory evaluated through interviews and questionnaires at 7-8 months post-discharge.

Main Results:

• 64.5% SF-36 response rate showed significantly lower QOL scores compared to population norms.
• At follow-up, 67.6% continued most activities, 75% were self-caring, but 64.7% were non-workers (up from 40.4% pre-ICU).
• 40% experienced significant weight loss; 43% had no memory of their ICU stay, and only 16% recalled receiving information.

Conclusions:

• There is a need to enhance symptom management and provide repeated information to patients post-ICU discharge.
• Nutritional status and weight loss are significant concerns requiring attention.
• Further research is needed to understand the relationship between the ICU stay and subsequent psychosocial and physical problems.