Prediction of Functional Outcomes From Chronic Critical Illness

A substantial number of critically ill patients experience persistent organ failure leading to chronic critical illness (CCI). The majority of these patients die within a year, and many survivors must cope with long-term physical and cognitive limitations that are often severe. Survival with severe physical and cognitive dysfunction is a significant clinical, emotional, and economic burden in this population, but little is known about which patients are at highest risk for physical and cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, although long-term mortality in CCI can be reliably estimated with a validated mortality prediction model, there is currently no validated method to predict long-term functional disability for purposes of shared decision-making and resource planning. In order to address these gaps in knowledge, the investigators will conduct a multi-center prospective cohort study that measures clinical and premorbid risk factors for long-term physical and cognitive dysfunction in CCI. Using these risk factors, the investigators will construct a multi-outcome prognostic model for survival with severe physical or cognitive dysfunction to facilitate shared decision-making and resource planning. Additionally, the investigators will identify independent social and economic variables that are risk factors for long-term survival and functional disability.