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. 2021 Jul 8;9(7):865.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare9070865.

Six-Month Outcomes in COVID-19 ICU Patients and Their Family Members: A Prospective Cohort Study

Nadine van Veenendaal  1   2 , Ingeborg C van der Meulen  1   3 , Marisa Onrust  1   3 , Wolter Paans  1   3 , Willem Dieperink  1   3 , Peter H J van der Voort  1   4
Affiliations

Six-Month Outcomes in COVID-19 ICU Patients and Their Family Members: A Prospective Cohort Study

Nadine van Veenendaal et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a major influx of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Currently, there is limited knowledge on the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 ICU-survivors and the impact on family members. This study aimed to gain an insight into the long-term physical, social and psychological functioning of COVID-19 ICU-survivors and their family members at three- and six-months following ICU discharge.

Methods: A single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted among COVID-19 ICU-survivors and their family members. Participants received questionnaires at three and six months after ICU discharge. Physical functioning was evaluated using the MOS Short-Form General Health Survey, Clinical Frailty Scale and spirometry tests. Social functioning was determined using the McMaster Family Assessment Device and return to work. Psychological functioning was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results: Sixty COVID-19 ICU-survivors and 78 family members participated in this study. Physical functioning was impaired in ICU-survivors as reflected by a score of 33.3 (IQR 16.7-66.7) and 50 (IQR 16.7-83.3) out of 100 at 3- and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. Ninety percent of ICU-survivors reported persistent symptoms after 6 months. Social functioning was impaired since 90% of COVID-19 ICU-survivors had not reached their pre-ICU work level 6 months after ICU-discharge. Psychological functioning was unaffected in COVID-19 ICU-survivors. Family members experienced worse work status in 35% and 34% of cases, including a decrease in work rate among 18.3% and 7.4% of cases at 3- and 6-months post ICU-discharge, respectively. Psychologically, 63% of family members reported ongoing impaired well-being due to the COVID-19-related mandatory physical distance from their relatives.

Conclusion: COVID-19 ICU-survivors suffer from a prolonged disease burden, which is prominent in physical and social functioning, work status and persisting symptoms among 90% of patients. Family members reported a reduction in return to work and impaired well-being. Further research is needed to extend the follow-up period and study the effects of standardized rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients and their family members.

Keywords: COVID-19; PICS; PICS-F; critical care; follow-up; physical functioning; post-ICU-syndrome; psychological functioning; quality of life; social functioning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of the article.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Overview of questions related to symptoms, fear of reinfection, post-influence of limited visiting possibilities and its influences on well-being.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of outcome variables per domain of the COFICS at three and six months post ICU discharge. 1 Subscale mental health is excluded. 2 Family members received these questions only at 3 months. 3 Patients received these questions only at 6 months.
Figure 2
Figure 2
COFICS flow diagram: participant recruitment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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