Development of a prediction model for long-term quality of life in critically ill patients

J Crit Care. 2018 Feb:43:133-138. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.09.006. Epub 2017 Sep 6.

Abstract

Purpose: We developed a prediction model for quality of life (QOL) 1 year after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge based upon data available at the first ICU day to improve decision-making.

Methods: The database of a 1-year prospective study concerning long-term outcome and QOL (assessed by EuroQol-5D) in critically ill adult patients consecutively admitted to the ICU of a university hospital was used. Cases with missing data were excluded. Utility indices at baseline (UIb) and at 1 year (UI1y) were surrogates for QOL. For 1-year non-survivors UI1y was set at zero. The grouped lasso technique selected the most important variables in the prediction model. R2 and adjusted R2 were calculated.

Results: 1831 of 1953 cases (93.8%) were complete. UI1y depended significantly on: UIb (P<0.001); solid tumor (P<0.001); age (P<0.001); activity of daily living (P<0.001); imaging (P<0.001); APACHE II-score (P=0.001); ≥80 years (P=0.001); mechanical ventilation (P=0.006); hematological patient (P=0.007); SOFA-score (P=0.008); tracheotomy (P=0.018); admission diagnosis surgical P<0.001 (versus medical); and comorbidity (P=0.049). Only baseline health status and surgical patients were positively associated with UI1y. R2 was 0.3875 and adjusted R2 0.3807.

Conclusion: Although only 40% of variability in long-term QOL could be explained, this prediction model can be helpful in decision-making.

Keywords: Critically ill patient; Intensive care; Long-term outcome; Prediction model; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Comorbidity
  • Critical Illness / epidemiology
  • Critical Illness / therapy*
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Health Status*
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Organ Dysfunction Scores
  • Patient Discharge
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life*
  • Respiration, Artificial / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tracheotomy / statistics & numerical data