[Quality of life after intensive care]

Nowadays, simple survival from a life threatening condition requiring treatment in an ICU, cannot be regarded as a sole indicator of the medical success. Patients expect to return to a more or less normal life, and to resume their daily activities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the health related quality of life (HRQOL) as a long-term indicator of successful outcome.

The analyzed group consisted of patients treated over five years in ICUs of two different hospitals. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire on the health related quality of life (HRQOL).

Compared to the healthy population, the quality of life of patients treated in an ICU was significantly lower in all areas. The lowest results were noted in the physical and physiological aspects of patients who survived cardiac arrest and surgical procedures. There was no correlation found between quality of life and duration of ICU treatment. The HRQOL index correlated negatively with high APACHE II scores on admission. The HRQOL was also related to the pre-ICU health status and co-existing diseases.