Quality of life of survivors of paediatric intensive care

Ambuehl, Julia; Karrer, Adrienne; Meer, Andreas; Riedel, Thomas; Schibler, Andreas (2007). Quality of life of survivors of paediatric intensive care. Swiss medical weekly, 137(21-22), pp. 312-6. Muttenz: EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag

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OBJECTIVE: The mortality rate in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) has fallen over the last two decades. More advanced treatment is offered to children with life-threatening disease and there is substantial interest in knowing whether long term outcome and quality of life after intensive care are acceptable. SETTING: 12-bed paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit. INTERVENTION: Prospective follow-up study with telephone interview 1 and 2 years after discharge. METHODS: Four domains of quality of life (physical function, role function, social-emotional function and health problem) were recorded by calculating the health state classification (HSC) index. Outcome was classified good (HSC 1.0-0.7), moderate (HSC 0.69-0.3), poor (HSC 0.29-0) and very poor (HSC <0). RESULTS: 661 patients were admitted to the PICU in the year 2001 with a mortality within the unit of 3.9%. Over 2 years follow-up there were 21 additional deaths (3.2%). 574 patients could be followed up after 1 year and 464 patients after 2 years. After two years the outcome was good in 77%, moderate in 15% and poor in 8%. Patients with respiratory disease had the best outcome, similar to those admitted for neurological and medical reasons. Patients admitted for postoperative care and for cardiovascular disease had a poorer quality of life. 31% of the children had preexisting health care problems and 21% of all patients had new chronic disease after intensive care. CONCLUSION: The majority of survivors admitted to the PICU have a good outcome. The overall mortality rate doubled if assessed two years after discharge.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Ambühl, Julia, Riedel, Thomas
ISSN:	1424-7860
ISBN:	17629809
Publisher:	EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag
Language:	English
Submitter:	Anette van Dorland
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:55
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:17
PubMed ID:	17629809
Web of Science ID:	000248206500003
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/23440 (FactScience: 41828)