ICU Survivors Have a Substantial Higher Risk of Developing New Chronic Conditions Compared to a Population-Based Control Group.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the types and prevalence of chronic conditions in an ICU population and a population-based control group during the year before ICU admission and to quantify the risk of developing new chronic conditions in ICU patients compared with the control group.

DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study, combining a national health insurance claims database and a national quality registry for ICUs. Claims data in the timeframe 2012-2014 were combined with clinical data of patients who had been admitted to an ICU during 2013. To assess the differences in risk of developing new chronic conditions, ICU patients were compared with a population-based control group using logistic regression modeling.

SETTING

Eighty-one Dutch ICUs.

PATIENTS

All patients admitted to an ICU during 2013. A population-based control group was created, and weighted on the age, gender, and socio-economic status of the ICU population.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

ICU patients (n = 56,760) have more chronic conditions compared with the control group (n = 75,232) during the year before ICU admission (p < 0.0001). After case-mix adjustment ICU patients had a higher risk of developing chronic conditions, with odds ratios ranging from 1.67 (CI, 1.29-2.17) for asthma to 24.35 (CI, 14.00-42.34) for epilepsy, compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the high prevalence of chronic conditions and the increased risk of developing new chronic conditions, ICU follow-up care is advised and may focus on the identification and treatment of the new developed chronic conditions.