Implementation of a Follow-Up Program for Intensive Care Unit Survivors

Marta Villa, Silvia Villa, Simona Vimercati, Mara Andreossi, Fabrizia Mauri, Daniela Ferlicca, Roberto Rona, Giuseppe Foti and Alberto Lucchini
Additional contact information
Marta Villa: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Silvia Villa: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Simona Vimercati: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Mara Andreossi: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Fabrizia Mauri: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Daniela Ferlicca: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Roberto Rona: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Giuseppe Foti: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Alberto Lucchini: General Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department—ASST Monza—San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: In Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors, critical illness has an impact on an individual’s long-term health status and quality of life. Adults who have recovered from intensive care management could develop muscle weakness, neurocognitive impairment, difficulties in managing activities of daily living and to returning to work, and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. A prospective, observational study was designed. Data were collected from January to December 2018 from a structured follow-up program, at 3 time points after ICU discharge: at seven days, a visit in the general ward, a phone interview at three months and an ambulatory visit at six months. A total of 95 patients were enrolled, 36% female, with a median age of 65 (55–73) years and a median ICU length of stay of 13 (8–20) days. At the seven days follow-up, patients who had a positive Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale showed a significantly longer time of intubation ( p = 0.048) and length of ICU stay ( p = 0.023). At three months, we observed a significant relationship between a positive Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a median value of EuroQol-5D ( p = 0.048). At six months, we observed that patients who had a positive Post-Traumatic Symptom Scale were significantly younger than the other group. Findings from the present study suggest that a longer time of intubation and length of ICU stay are associated with a higher level of anxiety and depression immediately after ICU discharge. Follow-up programs are recommended to assess and rehabilitate cognitive function at ICU discharge.

Keywords: 6-min walking test; follow-up; health related quality of life; ICU survivors; post-traumatic stress disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/10122/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/10122/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10122-:d:643764

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().