Reduced quality of life in survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome compared with critically ill control patients

Abstract

Context Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is reduced in patients who survive acute respiratory distress (ARDS), but whether this decline in HRQL is caused by ARDS or other aspects of the patient's illness or injury is unknown. Objective To determine if there are differences in the HRQL of ARDS survivors and comparably ill or injured controls without ARDS. Design Prospective, matched, parallel cohort study. Setting A 411-bed municipal medical and regional level I trauma center. Patients Seventy-three pairs of ARDS survivors and severity-matched controls with the clinical risk factors for ARDS of sepsis and trauma admitted between January 1, 1994, and July 30, 1996. Main Outcome Measures The HRQL of ARDS survivors and controls, assessed by generic and pulmonary disease-specific HRQL instruments (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Standard Form [SF-36] and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ], respectively). Results Clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in HRQL scares of ARDS survivors (n = 73) were seen in 7 of 8 SF-36 domains and 3 of 3 SGRQ domains compared with matched controls (P