title: Rehabilitation activities, out-patient visits and employment in patients and partners the first year after ICU: a descriptive study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the influence of critical illness on patients and their partners in relation to rehabilitation, healthcare consumption and employment during the first year after Intensive Care Unit discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal, observational and descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five Danish Intensive Care Units.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from hospital charts, population registers and interviews with 18 patients and their partners at 3 and 12 months after intensive care discharge. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-discharge inpatient rehabilitation was median (range) 52 (15-174) days (n=10). Community-based training was 12 (3-34) weeks (n=15). Neuropsychological rehabilitation following brain damage was 13-20 weeks (n=3). Number of out-patient visits 1 year before and 1 year after were mean 3 versus 8, and General Practitioner visits were 12 versus 18. Three patients resumed work at pre-hospitalisation employment rates after 12 months. After the patients' stay in intensive care, partners' mean full-time sick leave was 17 (range 0-124) days and 21 (range 0-106) days part time. Partners often had long commutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients had comprehensive recovery needs requiring months of rehabilitation. Some partners needed extensive sick leave. The study reveals the human cost of critical illness and intensive care for patients and partners in the Danish welfare system.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Brendstrupgårdsvej 100, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: anne.agard@reher-langberg.dk.
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Agård
authors: Aarhus University, Faculty of Health, Department of Clinical Medicine and Department of Public Health, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, Building 12A, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: kl@sygeplejevid.au.dk.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Lomborg
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Nørrebrogade 44, Building 21, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: elsetoen@rm.dk.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Tønnesen
authors: University of Copenhagen, Health & Medical Sciences, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Trauma Center HOC 3193, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark. Electronic address: ingrid.egerod@regionh.dk.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Egerod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003718:Denmark; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Caregivers; Family; Intensive care; Recovery; Rehabilitation