title: Health-related quality of life in family members of intensive care unit patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The intensive care unit (ICU) experience has been reported to cause adverse health effects in families during and after the ICU stay. The objective of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in relatives of patients 90 days after ICU discharge or death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one ICUs in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 459 eligible relatives of ICU patients, 284 (62%) were included in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a telephone interview, the SF-36 was completed to assess HRQOL 90 days after ICU discharge or death. The physical component summary score of the SF-36 was normal (89/100 [66-94]) but the mental component summary score showed substantial impairments (emotional role, 67 [50-80]; social functioning, 70 [60-90]; vitality, 60 [45-70]; and mental health, 60 [48-2]). Moreover, 35.9% of relatives were taking anxiolytic or antidepressant drugs, and 8.4% were taking psychotropic agents prescribed since the discharge or death of the patient. Among factors independently associated with a worse mental score, 2 were patient-related (admission for shock or implementation of end-of-life decision), 6 were family-related (older age, female gender, child of the patient, low income, chronic disease, and newly prescribed psychotropic medications), and 1 was related to the ICU experience (perceived conflicts between ICU staff and relatives).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SF-36 showed evidence of impaired mental health in relatives of ICU patients 90 days after discharge. Better end-of-life care, psychiatric support after the ICU experience, and better conflict prevention and resolution are potential targets for improvement.
authors.affiliation: FAMIREA Group Study, Saint Louis Teaching Hospital, Medical Intensive Care Unit and Biostatistics Department, Paris 7 University, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, France. virginie.lemiale@sls.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemiale
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kentish-Barnes
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaize
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aboab
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adrie
authors.forename: Djillali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Annane
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cariou
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galliot
authors.forename: Maité
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrouste-Orgeas
authors.forename: Dany
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldgran-Toledano
authors.forename: Mercé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jourdain
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Souweine
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Timsit
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azoulay
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pochard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric