Long-Term Impairment in Cognition, Mental Health, and Physical Function Following COVID-19-Associated Respiratory Failure

Abstract

RATIONALE: Prior to the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), critical illness survivors were known to suffer long-term impairments in physical function, mental health, and cognition. These deficits, collectively termed the post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), impact health-related quality-of-life. Survivors of COVID-19-associated respiratory failure may be at particularly high risk of PICS due to delirium and prolonged mechanical ventilation, and factors unique to the pandemic, including physical isolation from medical staff, lack of in-hospital family presence, limited post-acute care rehabilitation, and widespread economic recession. Given this context, we describe the prevalence of PICS 6 months following hospital discharge among survivors of COVID-19-associated respiratory failure. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study from March to December 2020 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. We identified ICU survivors who underwent at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation for COVID-19. We contacted eligible patients via telephone at 6 months post-hospital discharge. Sample size was determined by thematic saturation of interviews within a concurrent qualitative assessment. We used the Society of Critical Care Medicine international consensus recommendations for PICS assessment. We assessed anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Impact-of-Events Scale, respectively. We assessed physical impairment with the EQ-5D questionnaire, and cognitive impairment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Blind. Data are means + standard deviation or number (percent). RESULTS: We completed telephone interviews with 50 of 173 eligible patients (53 contacted, 3 declined). Age was 57+13 years, duration of invasive mechanical ventilation was 14+8.2 days and PaO2:FiO2 ratio at intubation was 174±46. Delirium developed in 35 patients (70%). Six months post-discharge, 38 patients (76%) met criteria for PICS, with 1 or more domains impaired. Among patients with PICS, 22 (44%) were impaired in at least 2 domains, and 9 (18%) impaired in all 3 domains. PTSD was present in 17 patients (34%), anxiety in 19 (38%), and depression in 20 (40%). Twenty-four patients (48%) had impairments in activities of daily living. Nineteen patients (37%) demonstrated cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS Over three quarters of COVID-19-associated respiratory failure survivors demonstrated PICS 6 months after hospital discharge. Patients were commonly impaired in at least two domains. These estimates of PICS prevalence appear broadly similar to those reported in the pre-COVID-19 literature and should drive focused efforts to identify COVID-19 survivors at high risk for PICS prior to discharge.