title: Quality of life of survivors of paediatric intensive care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mortality rate in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) has fallen over the last two decades. More advanced treatment is offered to children with life-threatening disease and there is substantial interest in knowing whether long term outcome and quality of life after intensive care are acceptable.
  
  
  METHODS
  12-bed paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow-up study with telephone interview 1 and 2 years after discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four domains of quality of life (physical function, role function, social-emotional function and health problem) were recorded by calculating the health state classification (HSC) index. Outcome was classified good (HSC 1.0-0.7), moderate (HSC 0.69-0.3), poor (HSC 0.29-0) and very poor (HSC <0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  661 patients were admitted to the PICU in the year 2001 with a mortality within the unit of 3.9%. Over 2 years follow-up there were 21 additional deaths (3.2%). 574 patients could be followed up after 1 year and 464 patients after 2 years. After two years the outcome was good in 77%, moderate in 15% and poor in 8%. Patients with respiratory disease had the best outcome, similar to those admitted for neurological and medical reasons. Patients admitted for postoperative care and for cardiovascular disease had a poorer quality of life. 31% of the children had preexisting health care problems and 21% of all patients had new chronic disease after intensive care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of survivors admitted to the PICU have a good outcome. The overall mortality rate doubled if assessed two years after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Children's Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambuehl
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karrer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schibler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors