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

Context Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is reduced in patients who su rvive acute respiratory distress (ARDS), but whether this decline in HRQL i s caused by ARDS or other aspects of the patient's illness or injury is unk nown. Objective To determine if there are differences in the HRQL of ARDS survivo rs 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 control s with the clinical risk factors for ARDS of sepsis and trauma admitted bet ween 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 S tudy 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 H RQL scores 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<.001 for all reducti ons). The largest decrements in the HRQL were seen in physical function and pulmonary symptoms and limitations. Analysis of trauma-matched pairs (n = 46) revealed significant reductions in 7 of 8 SF-36 domains (P less than or equal to.02) and 3 of 3 SGRQ domains (P less than or equal to.003). Analys is of sepsis-matched pairs (n = 27) revealed significant reductions in 6 of 8 SF-36 domains (P less than or equal to.05) and 3 of 3 SGRQ domains (P le ss than or equal to.002). Conclusions Survivors of ARDS have a clinically significant reduction in HR QL that appears to be caused exclusively by ARDS and its sequelae, Reductio ns were primarily noted in physical functioning and pulmonary disease-speci fic domains.