Intensive Care Unit Recovery

Survival rates of patients with critical illness have increased due to improved facilities and treatment methods in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite surviving critical illness, patients often face a difficult road of rehabilitation after discharge from the ICU or the hospital ward. A large body of evidence indicates that critical illness survivors suffer from physical and mental health problems, reflected in a reduced health related quality of life. However, detailed studies on longer-term outcomes and physical and mental recovery are lacking. In order to develop a tailored aftercare intervention program for critical care survivors a detailed description of the specific health problems is necessary. The aim of this study is to evaluate the change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical and mental health of critical illness survivors.