Long‐term physical outcome in patients with septic shock

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on physical function after septic shock. The aim of the present study was to assess the physical outcome in survivors 1 year after septic shock. METHODS: The outcome status of all 174 adult patients admitted to a mixed ICU with the diagnosis septic shock in a 1-year period was registered. Survivors were interviewed about physical function and socioeconomic status using a questionnaire including the Short Form-36 survey. The pre-ICU-admission Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI) was also registered. RESULTS: Of the 80 survivors, two were still hospitalised; thus, 78 were invited to participate and 70 replied (inclusion-rate 88%). Patients were followed up at median 351 days after hospital discharge. At follow-up the patients had a markedly reduced physical component summary score (PCS) compared with age- and sex-adjusted general population controls (36 vs. 47, P<0.0001). This was also observed in patients with no comorbidity before ICU admission (34 vs. 47, P<0.001). There was a negative correlation (r=-0.27, P=0.03) between pre-ICU-admission FCI values and the PCS at follow-up. According to 81% of the patients, loss of muscle mass was the main cause of decreased physical function. Only 43% (10 vs. 23, P=0.01) of the previously employed had returned to work, and the number of patients in need of home-based personal assistance had doubled (10/20, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Physical function is substantially reduced in survivors of septic shock 1 year after discharge.