Interventions to improve long-term outcomes after critical illness

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Health services research

Background:

• Survivors of critical illness often experience impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
• Literature on interventions to improve HRQoL in this population is less developed than for specific conditions like spinal cord injury or myocardial infarction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on interventions aimed at enhancing HRQoL in critical illness survivors.
• To identify effective strategies for treating or preventing long-term complications affecting survivors' quality of life.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies focusing on interventions for critical illness survivors.
• Analysis of existing research on the efficacy of various therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

• Limited studies currently guide clinicians in preventing or treating critical illness sequelae.
• Standard intensive care unit (ICU) therapies like daily sedation interruption and lung protective ventilation do not negatively impact long-term outcomes.
• Insulin therapy may prevent neuromuscular complications, stress dose corticosteroids may reduce posttraumatic stress disorder, and self-help manuals show promise for improving physical functioning.

Conclusions:

• Research into interventions for improving long-term outcomes after critical illness is in its early stages.
• Further clinical recommendations are premature, but potential intervention areas exist both within the ICU and post-discharge.
• Intensivists can target multiple areas to improve survivors' long-term health and quality of life.