Health-related quality of life before, 1 month after, and 9 months after intensive care in medical cardiovascular and pulmonary patients.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of health-related quality of life before, 1 month after, and 9 months after an intensive care unit stay using an established generic instrument, the Medical Outcome Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36).


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
University hospital medical intensive care unit.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-five patients with predominantly cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Demographic data, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, and Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) were obtained. All adult survivors staying in the intensive care unit for >24 hrs were eligible. Pre-intensive care unit status was obtained for 245 patients (179 males, mean age 64 yrs, mean intensive care unit stay 3 days, SAPS II 26 +/- 10), and 153 patients completed all three questionnaires. In this cohort, none of the eight health dimensions of the SF-36 showed impaired functioning after 9 months compared with baseline values. Physical and emotional role deteriorated after 1 month but returned to baseline thereafter. Notably, the mental health summary scale did not change during the course of the study, whereas the physical health summary scale consistently improved over time. Patients older than the median of 66 yrs rated their physical functioning lower. No association with SAPS II or SOFA and SF-36 was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of life after intensive care unit is a dynamic process, with some functions improving shortly after intensive care unit discharge and others deteriorating but returning at least to baseline values later on. In this patient population, the SF-36 was independent from measures of severity of illness or morbidity. Health-related quality of life represents a feasible method to collect patients' individual views in contrast to surrogate measures of outcome.
Graf
Jürgen
J
Medical Clinic I, University Hospital Aachen, Germany.
Koch
Mechthild
M
Dujardin
Robert
R
Kersten
Alexander
A
Janssens
Uwe
U
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000523:psychology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018805:Sepsis / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors