[Lung diffusion capacity and quality of life 6 months after discharge from the ICU among survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome due to influenza A H1N1].

OBJECTIVE: An evaluation is made of lung function and quality of life 6 months after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) among survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to pandemic 2009 influenza A H1N1, based on studies of lung function and the EQ-5D health questionnaire.

DESIGN: Case series.

SETTING: The ICU of Dr. Leónidas Lucero Acute Cases Municipal Hospital, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.

PATIENTS: PATIENTS discharged from the ICU who had been admitted with ARDS in 2009 due to influenza A H1N1.

RESULTS: Eleven patients were studied. Seven were positive for influenza H1N1 and four were negative. The mean age was 37±9.5 years, and 73% were males. Quality of life, as measured by the EQ-5D, showed changes in the 5 components in all patients, particularly in the pain/discomfort dimension 1.55±0.52; health status (EQ%health) was 70%±24. The indices adjusted for Argentina were Time Trade Off (TTO) 0.903±0.085 and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 0.827±0.153. In all patients, spirometry and the study of pulmonary diffusion (DLCO) showed values of >80%. There was no correlation between lung diffusion and quality of life (%DLCO and EQ%health). A correlation was observed between quality of life and TTO (EQ%health and TTO), and between quality of life and the VAS score (EQ%health and VAS).

CONCLUSION: Although the sample is small, our results suggest that patients with ARDS due to influenza A H1N1 evaluated 6 months after discharge from the ICU show no deterioration of lung function, and the impact on quality of life is moderate-in contrast to the situation found in patients with ARDS of other etiologies.