Quality of life in ICU survivors and their relatives with post‐intensive care syndrome: A systematic review

Background: post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is characterized by all three adverse survivorship dimensions: physical function, cognitive function and mental health status. Aim This review aimed to describe the quality of life (QoL) of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors with PICS after discharge and of their relatives with Family Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS-F) and to report anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) in studies investigating PICS. Study Design A systematic review was carried out. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. This review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022382123). Results We included 19 studies of PICS and PICS-F in this systematic review. Fourteen observational studies report the effects of PICS on depression, 12 studies on anxiety and nine on post-traumatic stress disorder and 10 on QoL. Mobility, personal care, usual activities and pain/discomfort in QoL were the domains most affected by PICS. A significant association was demonstrated between a high level of ICU survivors' anxiety and high levels of ICU relatives' burden. Strain-related symptoms and sleep disorders were problems encountered by ICU relatives with PICS-F. Conclusion PICS and PICS-F were widespread experiences among ICU survivors and their ICU relatives, respectively. The results of this review showed the adverse effects of PICS and PICS-F on QoL. Relevance to Clinical Practice PICS and PICS-F strongly impact the rehabilitation process and are measured in terms of health costs, financial stress and potentially preventable readmission.