25 PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING AFTER ICU-ADMISSION 2 1-year follow-up, were lost to follow-up, or who did not complete the physical functioning (PF) domain of the questionnaire were excluded from analysis (Figure 1). 2.2.2 Ethical considerations Due to the retrospective nature of this study, a local ethical committee determined this study was eligible to be assessed as a nWMO-research project (Regionale Toetsingscommissie Patiëntgebonden Onderzoek, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands; nWMO-number: nWMO 358). The need for informed consent was waived by the ethical committee as the patient-record data was analysed anonymously. 2.2.3 Data collection In the specialised post-ICU clinic, the Dutch translation of the RAND-36 item Health Survey (RAND-36), which is very similar to the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form-36 (MOS SF-36), was used to evaluate HRQoL.13 This questionnaire consisted of nine subscales used to assess physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations due to physical or emotional problems, mental health, energy/ fatigue, pain, general health perception, and experienced changes in health during the past four weeks. In each subscale, a score was given from 0 to 100, in which higher scores represented better HRQoL. Effectiveness, validity and reliability of the RAND-36 have been tested repeatedly in both the general population and numerous patient groups, including ICU-patients.14 According to standard protocol, PF-domain scores of the RAND-36 were collected at 3 and 12-months after ICU-discharge. These scores were compared to a reference value of healthy individuals aged 65 to 75. A margin was taken into account, resulting in a reference value PF-domain score of 65.13 All patients with a PF-domain score below 65 were considered as part of the non-recovery (NR)-group (median score: 35 [20–50]). Simultaneously, patients with a PF- domain score equal or above 65 were assigned to the recovery (R)-group (median score: 85 [75–95]). Baseline characteristics and usual care data were collected from electronic patient files. Three patients did not complete all questions of the PF-domain of the RAND-36 and were subsequently excluded from analysis. Standard care data on physical functioning were retrieved from electronic patient files (for overview, see Table 1). Functional status, muscle strength, walking distance, mobility, and balance were taken into account. Functional status, i.e. ADL-performance at discharge and 3-months after ICU-admission,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjY0ODMw