Quality of life after intensive care.
An important aspect of effectiveness of intensive care services is change in the quality of life of survivors after critical illness. A questionnaire was complied using established methods for assessment of quality of life and sent to all known survivors of a regional intensive care unit. Each patient's quality of life was then quantified using disability categories. The results show that patients with a good premorbid quality of life suffered a significant decline after critical illness. Similar important decreases in quality of life were found in younger patients and trauma victims. Quality of life may be a valuable consideration in determining the appropriateness of intensive care management.
Ridley
S A
SA
Division of Anaesthesia, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
Wallace
P G
PG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom