Health-related quality of life and rehabilitation cost following intensive care unit stay in multiple trauma patients.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in multiple trauma patients due to motor vehicle crashes during a follow-up period of 2 years after discharge from an intensive care unit (ICU) and the effect of income and financial cost of rehabilitation in HRQOL.


METHODS
The study was a prospective observational study of multiple trauma patients from January 2009 to January 2011 who were hospitalized in a general, medical, and surgical ICU of a district hospital in Athens, Greece. Eighty-five patients with multiple traumas due to motor vehicle crashes and with an ICU stay of more than 24 hours were included in the study. HRQOL was assessed by a general questionnaire, the EuroQol 5D.


RESULTS
Increased monthly household income and absence of traumatic brain injuries were associated with an improved EQ-VAS score. The frequency of severe problems in mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression decreased over time. The financial cost of rehabilitation was initially high but decreased over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Severely injured victims of motor vehicle crashes suffer from serious problems in terms of HRQOL which is gradually improved even 2 years after hospital discharge. In addition, HRQOL is significantly related to income. Resources used for rehabilitation decrease over time, but even at 24 months, the patients still use half of the amount as compared with the cost of the first 6 months after trauma.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Intensive Care Unit, GONK Agioi Anargyroi Hospital, School of Nursing, Kalyftaki, N. Kifisia, Greece (Drs Stergiannis, Katsoulas, Fildissis, Kosta, Zidianakis, and Baltopoulos); National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Nursing, Papadiamantopoulou, Goudi, Athens, Greece (Dr Intas); and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Nursing, Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, Papadiamantopoulou, Goudi, Athens, Greece (Dr Galanis).
Pantelis
P
Stergiannis
Theodoros
T
Katsoulas
George
G
Fildissis
George
G
Intas
Peter
P
Galanis
Natalia
N
Kosta
Vasilios
V
Zidianakis
George
G
Baltopoulos
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010351:Patient Discharge; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult