Patients With a Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay Have Decreased Health-Related Quality of Life After Cardiac Surgery.

Cardiac surgery patients with a prolonged ICU length of stay (prICULOS) have lower rates of functional survival following their procedure, however detailed information on their health related quality of life (HRQoL) is lacking. We sought to investigate the potential need for intervention in these high-risk patients through comprehensive HRQoL assessments in the months to year following their surgery. A prospective, observational pilot study was undertaken and cardiac surgery patients with a prICULOS (ICU length of stay of ≥5 days) were recruited. A control group was obtained through recruitment of cardiac surgery patients with an ICU length of stay of <5 days. In-person clinical or telephone survey HRQoL assessments were completed at 3-6 months and 1-year time points after their procedure. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated for all study variable comparisons to quantify the standardized effect size observed between non-prICULOS and prICULOS patients. 789 cardiac procedures were performed during the study period and 89 patients experienced a prICULOS (10.7%). Of these 89 patients, 35 prICULOS patients were recruited along with 35 controls. 29 out of 35 prICULOS patients completed the study (83%). At the 3-6 month follow up the prICULOS patients had higher levels of weight loss, fear of falling, and driving deficits. At 1-year, prICULOS patients had persistent difficulties with activities of daily living and required more family and external support. This study demonstrates the need for closer follow up and intervention for cardiac surgery patients with a prICULOS who were found to have poorer mid and long-term HRQoL.