HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER ACUTE LUNG INJURY

Our study objective was to assess health-related quality of life in su rvivors of acute lung injury (ALI) and to supplement generic and disea se-specific questionnaires with findings from a focus group of ALI sur vivors. Six patients participated in the focus group, which revealed p atient concerns with amnesia, depressed mood, avoidance behaviors, aci d a prolonged recovery period. Using a cross-sectional study design, 2 4 patients completed a questionnaire 6 to 41 mo after their lung injur y. A total of 43% of the patients with ALI met criteria for depression ; 43% had self-reported significant functional limitations, although 3 9% had minimal or no limitations. Significant respiratory and psycholo gic symptoms were reported in a quarter to a third of patients. There were large decrements In all domains of the SF-36 (a generic health-re lated quality-of life instrument) in our sample compared with norms pr eviously established for the general population. In addition, our pati ents had similar physical difficulties compared with previously studie d patients with chronic medical illnesses but had more deficits in the social functioning and mental health domains. We conclude that long a fter lung injury, survivors have significantly lower health-related qu ality of life than the general population and are likely to have pulmo nary and psychologic symptoms.