# HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND PARTICIPATION AFTER INPATIENT REHABILITATION OF SEPSIS SURVIVORS WITH SEVERE SEQUELAE: A COHORT STUDY

## TL;DR

This study shows that sepsis survivors with severe complications can achieve moderate quality of life and social participation after multidisciplinary rehabilitation.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into recovery outcomes for severely affected sepsis survivors through a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach.

## Key findings

- 69% of patients were living at home 3 months after rehabilitation.
- Quality of life scores were 0.64 ± 0.32 for the EQ-5D utility index.
- Participation scores were 54.98 ± 24.97 for the Reintegration of Normal Living Index.

## Abstract

To describe health-related quality of life and participation after rehabilitation of severely affected sepsis survivors.

Cohort study.

Patients with severe sequelae after sepsis treated in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation pathway were included.

Patient characteristics at the time of diagnosis, and the outcome 3 months after discharge from rehabilitation are described. At that time, health-related quality of life, social participation, and the rate of living at home were measured.

Of the 498 patients enrolled, 100 severely impaired patients were transferred for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach. Fifty-five of them were followed up at 3 months. Descriptive and inference statistics showed that 69% were living at home with or without care. Health-related quality of life and participation scores were 0.64 ± 0.32 for the EQ-5D utility index and 54.98 ± 24.97 for the Reintegration of Normal Living Index. A multivariate regression model explaining health-related quality of life at 3 months included age, lower limb strength, and walking ability during rehabilitation (r2 = 0.5511). Participation at 3 months was explained by age, body mass index, lower limb strength, and duration of tracheal intubation (r2 = 0.6229).

Patients who have experienced serious sepsis with severe sequelae can achieve a moderate level of quality of life and participation within a multidisciplinary pathway.

LAY ABSTRACT

Our study aimed to describe the health-related quality of life, participation, and the number of patients who were living at home after rehabilitation. Our cohort study included 100 patients who had severe impairment after sepsis and were transferred to our rehabilitation clinic. We could analyse 55 of these patients 3 months after discharge. Of these patients, 69% were living at home. The scores for health-related quality of life and participation were reasonable given the severity of the illness. The quality of life after 3 months could be attributed to factors such as the patient’s age, strength in the lower limbs, and walking ability during rehabilitation. Social participation after 3 months could be linked to variables such as the patient’s age, body mass index, lower limb strength, and the duration of tracheal intubation. In conclusion, severely affected sepsis survivors who undergo multidisciplinary rehabilitation can have moderate levels of quality of life and participation.