Quality of life of survivors of paediatric intensive care.
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.
Ambuehl
Julia
J
Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Children's Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
Karrer
Adrienne
A
Meer
Andreas
A
Riedel
Thomas
T
Schibler
Andreas
A
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