The influence of prolonged intensive care stay on quality of life, recovery, and clinical outcomes following cardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study

Abstract Objective To examine the influence of prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay on quality of life and recovery following cardiac surgery. Methods Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF36). The Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale was used to assess quality of recovery, disability, and cognition after ICU discharge over 12 months' follow-up. Prolonged ICU stay was defined as ≥3 postoperative days. Mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were recorded up to 12 months. Results For quality of life, the physical component improved over time in both groups ( P P P values  P P P P  = .03) but no differences in terms of physiologic ( P  = .91), nociceptive ( P  = .89), and satisfaction with anesthetic care ( P  = .91). Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events ( P P P Conclusions Patients with prolonged ICU stay have lower quality of life scores; however, they achieve similar midterm quality of recovery, but with reduced survival, increased major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, and longer hospital length of stay.