Follow-up after intensive care: a single center study.
OBJECTIVE
To study health problems, quality of life, functional status, and memory after intensive care.


METHODS
Adult patients ( n=346) discharged from a university hospital ICU.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study. Follow-up patients were found using the ICU database and the Peoples Registry. Quality of life (QOL) was measured with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) 6 months after ICU discharge. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, Glasgow Outcome Score (recovery), and Karnofsky Index (functional status) were used at consultations 7-8 months after ICU discharge.


RESULTS
The SF-36 response rate was 64.5%, with scores significantly lower than population scores. Consultation patients ( n=136) did not differ from the rest ( n=210) regarding age, SAPS II scores, length of stay (LOS), and reasons for ICU admission. At follow-up 67.6% of consultation patients continued most activities, 75% looked after themselves, and 64.7% were non-workers, compared to 40.4% before the ICU admission. During and after the ICU stay, 40% lost more than 10 kg body weight. Fifty-eight (43%) could not remember anything from their ICU stay. At follow-up only 22 (16%) could remember having received information during their ICU stay. Three patients needed referral to other specialties.


CONCLUSIONS
We should focus more on optimizing symptom management and giving repeated information after ICU discharge. Nutritional status and weight loss is another area of concern. More research is needed to find out how the broad range of psychosocial and physical problems following an ICU stay relates to the stay.
Kvåle
Reidar
R
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway. reidar.kvale@helse-bergen.no.
Ulvik
Atle
A
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway.
Flaatten
Hans
H
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway.
D003422:Critical Care; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries