Quality of life after intensive care.

An important aspect of effectiveness of intensive care services is change in the quality of life of survivors after critical illness. A questionnaire was complied using established methods for assessment of quality of life and sent to all known survivors of a regional intensive care unit. Each patient's quality of life was then quantified using disability categories. The results show that patients with a good premorbid quality of life suffered a significant decline after critical illness. Similar important decreases in quality of life were found in younger patients and trauma victims. Quality of life may be a valuable consideration in determining the appropriateness of intensive care management.