Frailty and health-related life quality in long-term follow up of intensive care patients above 65 years old: Protocol for a Norwegian prospective, observational multicenter study

Abstract

Background - Frailty is strongly correlated with mortality in intensive care unit patients, yet routine screening among intensive care patients is rarely performed.<p>

<p>The aim of this study is to assess frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients before intensive care admission and to compare this with outcomes after 3 and 12-months. The Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L will be used to assess frailty and HRQoL, respectively.<p>

<p>Methods - This is an ongoing, prospective observational study including patients from five Norwegian ICU's. Inclusion criteria are patients aged ≥65 years requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥24 h. The Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L are administered at baseline (before critical illness) and at 3- and 12-months post-inclusion. Additional data collected includes patient characteristics, ICU treatment details, illness severity and mortality. The EQ-5D-5L will be compared to Norwegian population norms and assessed for measurement properties.<p>

<p>Results - Inclusion started July 2022 and will be stopped at 350 patients. The study will be completed in 2025.<p>

<p>Conclusion - The study will assess the feasibility and measurement properties of the Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L in ICU survivors by telephone at long-term follow-up study and will give additional information on the frailty and HRQoL of intensive care survivors.