engleski

Factors affecting the quality of life of children treated in a pediatric intensive care unit

Introduction: In recent years there has been a significant increase in interest for measuring the Quality of Life (QOL) in children. The assessment of QOL and changes in QOL over time after a critical illness is important not only for survivors but also for their families and is a good measure of effectiveness of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) management. The underlying chronic health condition (CHC), severity of illness and length of stay are factors which can affect QOL of children treated in PICU. We investigated the influence of CHC, length of stay and severity of illness estimated by Paediatric Index of Mortality (PIM 2) on the long- term QOL. The quality of life of children was evaluated according to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children Measure of Function (RAHC MOF). Results: Six months after treatment in PICU severity of illness, expressed as PIM 2 score, showed a significant impact on children’s QOL (p=0.016). Longer length of stay in PICU has a significant negative impact on long-term QOL (p=0, 006). A decrease of RAHC MOF after 24 months occurred in significantly more patients with CHC treated in PICU, than in their peers from outpatient clinic as controls (p=0.029). Twenty four months after discharge from PICU significantly more children with neurodevelopmental disabilities had reduced QOL than children without CHC (p=0.013). Conclusion: Six months after discharge acute illness has a significant impact on children after treatment in PICU. Twenty four months after discharge, longer stay and co-morbidity ware the decisive factors for diminished QOL in children after PICU treatment. Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities had the worst preadmission and the worst long-term QOL.

children; intensive care; severity of illness; lenght of stay; long-term quality of life

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