Quality of life among long-term survivors of intensive care.
Quality of life was examined in 717 individuals 1 yr after their admission to a multidisciplinary ICU. Of these, 87% were able to live at home 6 months after their admission. Of patients 65 yr and older, 90% had been living independently before admission compared to 80% 1 yr afterward. Of those younger than 65 yr, most of the 65% who had been working before admission could return to work. The length of hospitalization during the first year after admission varied greatly; 10% of the patients stayed more than 145 days. The patients who needed mechanical ventilation or who stayed 1 wk or more in the ICU tended to have worse outcomes than others. These data indicate that there is no great deterioration in quality of life among long-term survivors of intensive care.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors