Health-Related Quality of Life One Year After Intensive Care Unit Admission for COVID-19: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional, Longitudinal Observational Study

Overview

Journal Health Sci Rep

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40008224

Authors

Carina M Samuelsson

Netha Hussain

Avril Drummond

Carina U Persson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Aims: Although sequelae are commonly reported in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors following COVID-19, country-specific long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) studies are scarce. Therefore, the aims were to describe HRQoL and to identify early factors associated with impaired HRQoL 1 year after ICU admission following COVID-19.

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional, longitudinal observational study assessed HRQoL 1 year after ICU admission for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. HRQoL was measured using the EuroQol 5 Dimensions 3 Levels (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire, which covers Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort and Anxiety/Depression, along with the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations between HRQoL and the independent variables.

Results: A total of 105 participants (median age 58 [interquartile range {IQR}: 51-66] years) completed the EQ-5D-3L. Over two-thirds ( = 73, 69%) reported moderate or extreme problems related to Pain/Discomfort and half ( = 53, 51%) reported problems related to Anxiety/Depression. The mean EQ-5D-3L value index was 0.83 (standard deviation ±0.13). For the EQ-VAS ( = 103), the median score was 70 (IQR: 59-80). Diabetes mellitus was associated with impaired HRQoL in Self-Care (odds ratio [OR]: 7.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.77-31.92) and longer length of stay in ICU was associated with impaired HRQoL in both Usual Activities (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05) and Pain/Discomfort (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.13). Also, younger age (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92-1.00) and female sex (OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06-0.70) were associated with impaired HRQoL in Pain/Discomfort.

Conclusion: The prevalence of impaired HRQoL 1 year after ICU care due to COVID-19 is a public health concern. Our findings imply that COVID-19 ICU survivors, and particularly those with diabetes, should be followed up beyond 1 year to identify those in need of continued mental and physical health care and rehabilitation.

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