Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia | 2021
Six-Month Quality of Life in COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Abstract
\n Objective(s)\n \n : Since there is increasing evidence of serious deterioration in long-term Quality of Life (QoL) in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, we identified predictors of poor quality of life in these patients.\n \n Design\n \n : Prospective cohort study.\n \n Setting\n \n : Research hospital repurposed in to a COVID-19 center.\n \n Participants\n \n : Consecutive patients admitted in COVID-19 ICU between March and June 2020.\n \n Interventions\n \n : A SF-36 questionnaire, which includes physical and mental items, was used 6 months after patients discharge.\n \n Measurements and Main Results\n \n : 403 patients were managed in the ICU with a hospital mortality of 181/403 (44.9%) while 16 (4.0%) further patients died within 6 months. Among the 125 questionnaire responders, only 32.0% and 52% had a normal quality of life in terms of the physical and mental component of health. Multivariable analysis identified low-molecular-weight heparin treatment in ICU as the only modifiable factor associated with an increase in physical component of QoL OR: 3.341 (95%CI 1.298-8.599), p=0.012, while age ≥52 years OR 0.223 and female sex OR 0.321 were significantly associated with a decrease in the physical component. Medical history of cerebrovascular insufficiency was significantly associated with a decrease in mental component of QoL OR: 0.125, while the only factor associated with an increase in the mental health component was BMI ≥ 27.6 kg / m2 OR 7.466.\n \n Conclusions\n \n : In COVID-19 intensive care unit survivors we identified treatment with low molecular weight heparin as a predictor of improved physical component of QoL at 6-months.\n