Physical, psychological, and cognitive function and quality of life in survivors of severe critical illness.

Survivors of critical illness frequently experience persistent physical, psychological, and cognitive impairments after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, which may contribute to reduced quality of life. Previous studies have described these outcomes in heterogeneous ICU populations with variable illness severity and using non-uniform assessment approaches. We conducted a standardized, multimodal assessment with validated scales in a cohort of severely ill ICU patients. This prospective, single-centre observational study included 100 adults (median age 63 years; 69% male) who required invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 h and vasopressors for shock. Follow-up was performed three months after ICU discharge. Physical performance was markedly impaired, with a median six-minute walk distance of 285 m (55% of predicted). Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress were observed in 35.4%, 32.3%, and 12.5% of patients, respectively. Suspected cognitive impairment was present in 55.7%, and frailty in 51%, of survivors. Older age, higher pre-ICU frailty, and longer ICU length of stay were independently associated with post-ICU frailty. Overall, 69.8% of patients had frailty or psychological impairment and 28.1% had both. These findings in survivors of severe critical illness highlight the need for early, structured, and multimodal post-ICU care pathways targeting this high-risk population.