Health-related quality of life of multiple organ dysfunction patients one year after intensive care.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of life (QOL) of intensive care survivors 1 year after discharge with special emphasis on multiple organ dysfunction (MOD).


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
A ten-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Among the 591 consecutive patients admitted in the year 1995, 307 of 378 patients who survived 1 year were studied.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
A generic scale assessing health-related QOL, the RAND 36-item Health Survey (RAND 36) was sent by mail 12 months after discharge. Data concerning age, severity of illness, organ dysfunctions and diagnoses were recorded. Of 307 patients, 98 (31.9 %) were able to work. The QOL measured by the RAND 36 showed clinically relevant impairment in emotional and physical role limitations compared with an age- and sex-matched general population. MOD (n = 131, 42.7 %) had a statistically significant negative effect on all QOL domains, except bodily pain and mental health, with the only clinically relevant impairment being in vitality and emotional role limitations compared with non-MOD patients. Of the 131 MOD patients, 36 (27.4 %) were able to work, 26 (19.8%) had severe limitations in their daily activities and 5 (3.8 %) were unable to live at home 1 year after discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
One year after intensive care the survivors had a lower QOL than an age-matched general population with clinically relevant further impairment of MOD patients in vitality and emotional role limitations.
Pettilä
V
V
Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. ville.pettila@helsinki.fi
Kaarlola
A
A
Mäkeläinen
A
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012380:Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome