Patients With a Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay Have Decreased Health-Related Quality of Life After Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgery patients with a prolonged ICU length of stay (prICULOS) have lower rates of functional survival following their procedure, however detailed information on their health related quality of life (HRQoL) is lacking. We sought to investigate the potential need for intervention in these high-risk patients through comprehensive HRQoL assessments in the months to year following their surgery. A prospective, observational pilot study was undertaken and cardiac surgery patients with a prICULOS (ICU length of stay of ≥5 days) were recruited. A control group was obtained through recruitment of cardiac surgery patients with an ICU length of stay of