title: Long-term physical outcome in patients with septic shock.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited information is available on physical function after septic shock. The aim of the present study was to assess the physical outcome in survivors 1 year after septic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outcome status of all 174 adult patients admitted to a mixed ICU with the diagnosis septic shock in a 1-year period was registered. Survivors were interviewed about physical function and socioeconomic status using a questionnaire including the Short Form-36 survey. The pre-ICU-admission Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI) was also registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 80 survivors, two were still hospitalised; thus, 78 were invited to participate and 70 replied (inclusion-rate 88%). Patients were followed up at median 351 days after hospital discharge. At follow-up the patients had a markedly reduced physical component summary score (PCS) compared with age- and sex-adjusted general population controls (36 vs. 47, P<0.0001). This was also observed in patients with no comorbidity before ICU admission (34 vs. 47, P<0.001). There was a negative correlation (r=-0.27, P=0.03) between pre-ICU-admission FCI values and the PCS at follow-up. According to 81% of the patients, loss of muscle mass was the main cause of decreased physical function. Only 43% (10 vs. 23, P=0.01) of the previously employed had returned to work, and the number of patients in need of home-based personal assistance had doubled (10/20, P=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical function is substantially reduced in survivors of septic shock 1 year after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of intensive Care, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. jesper.poulsen@rh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehlet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012946:Social Welfare; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome