Long term follow-up of quality of life and functional ability in patients with ICU acquired Weakness - A post hoc analysis

Georgios Sidiras; Irini Patsaki; Eleftherios Karatzanos; Maria Dakoutrou; Alexandros Kouvarakos; Georgios Mitsiou; Christina Routsi; Georgios Stranjalis; Serafim Nanas; Vasiliki Gerovasili

doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.06.022

Long term follow-up of quality of life and functional ability in patients with ICU acquired Weakness - A post hoc analysis

J Crit Care. 2019 Oct:53:223-230. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.06.022. Epub 2019 Jun 21.

Affiliations

¹ First Critical Care Department, Evangelismos Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
² Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise and Rehabilitation Laboratory, First Critical Care Department, Evangelismos Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: lkaratzanos@gmail.com.
³ Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise and Rehabilitation Laboratory, First Critical Care Department, Evangelismos Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Evangelismos Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

PMID: 31277049
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.06.022

Abstract

Purpose: ICU acquired Weakness (ICUaW) is a common complication of critical illness. The aim of our study was the assessment of quality of life (QoL) and functional ability of patients with ICUaW, 6 months post hospital discharge.

Material and methods: Eight hundred seventy eight consecutive patients who had been discharged from the ICU were evaluated and 128 of them, 36 with ICUaW, were eligible for the study. Muscle strength was evaluated with MRC and Hand grip dynamometry. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was used to evaluate the functional ability while QoL was assessed with the Nottingham Health Profile and with the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results: Patients with ICUaW continued to have low MRC at hospital discharge, [53(49-56) vs. 59(58-60), p < 0.05]. Patients who developed ICUaW had lower Hand grip dynamometry at ICU, hospital discharge and 6 months after (p < 0.05). Patients with ICUaW have significantly lower FIM score at hospital discharge, 3 and 6 months post hospital discharge (p < 0.05) and persistently lower QoL at 3 and 6 months post hospital discharge(p < 0.05).

Conclusions: ICUaW is associated with persistent deficiencies in functional ability and Qol leading to a prolonged period of recovery. Further research is needed in the field of prevention and targeted rehabilitation of functionality in this patient group.

Keywords: Functional ability; Intensive care unit acquired weakness; Post intensive care syndrome; Quality of life.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Critical Care*
Critical Illness
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hand Strength / physiology
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Strength / physiology
Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
Muscle Weakness / psychology*
Muscle Weakness / rehabilitation
Patient Discharge
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult