Elsevier

Journal of Critical Care

Volume 65, October 2021, Pages 36-41
Journal of Critical Care

Reduced quality of life in ICU survivors - the story behind the numbers: A mixed methods study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2021.05.008Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • After one year, over one fifth of the ICU survivors experienced a reduced QoL

  • The reduction was due to the physical, mental and cognitive problems

  • The health problems limited ICU survivors' in their daily activities

  • Factors as dependency, comorbidity and life events negatively impacted the QoL

  • Insight in factors affecting QoL is crucial in personalized recovery plans

Abstract

Purpose

To gain insight into the daily functioning of ICU survivors who reported a reduced quality of life (QoL) one year after ICU admission.

Materials and methods

A two-phase mixed method study design. QoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire before admission and after one year (Phase 1). Participants reporting a reduced QoL were invited for an in-depth interview (Phase 2). Interview data were coded thematically using the PROMIS framework.

Results

Of the 797 participants, 173 (22%) reported a reduced QoL, of which 19 purposively selected patients were interviewed. In line with their questionnaire scores, most participants described their QoL as reduced. They suffered from physical, mental and/or cognitive problems, impacting their daily life, restricting hobbies, work, and social activities. A new balance in life, including relationships, had to be found. Some interviewees experienced no changes in their QoL; they were grateful for being alive, set new life priorities, and were able to accept their life with its limitations.

Conclusions

Reduction in QoL is due to physical, mental, and cognitive health problems, restricting participants what they want to do. However, QoL was not only affected by the critical illness, but also by factors including independency, comorbidity, and life events.

Registration: NCT03246334 (clinical trials.gov).

Keywords

Critical care
Intensive care units
Interviews
Qualitative research
Quality of life

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