Functional Status and Quality of Life in Elderly Intensive Care Unit Survivors

Objectives To evaluate functional status and quality of life in elderly intensive care unit (ICU) survivors at 1‐year follow‐up. Design Prospective 18‐month observational study. Setting University medical–surgical ICU. Participants ICU survivors aged 75 and older. Measurements Functional status at baseline (Barthel Index (BI)) was compared with that at hospital discharge and 1‐year follow‐up. Health‐related quality of life (HRQL Spanish version of the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item Short‐From Survey) was measured at 1‐year follow‐up and compared with that of the Spanish population of same age. Results Of 176 individuals admitted to the ICU, 110 (62.1%) were discharged alive from the hospital, and 94 (53.1%) were alive at 1‐year follow‐up. ICU admission was associated with significant clinical deterioration (median BI 100 points (interquartile range (IQR) 85–100) at baseline vs 85 (IQR 60–100) at hospital discharge, P