ABSTRACT
Survivors of critical illness regularly complain of a reduced functional status with impaired ability to perform simple activities of daily living, such as walking, dressing, bathing, making telephone calls and shopping. Following treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU), patients can suffer with long-term physical, psychiatric and psychological problems, which can significantly impair survivors' quality of life. The post-ICU syndrome is complex as it can comprise any combination of these problems and can fluctuate over months and years following discharge from critical care. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being increasingly recognised as a significant consequence of treatment in the critical care environment. As post-ICU syndrome is such a broad-reaching and complex problem, it is difficult to define true risk factors. Certain factors predispose to some components of the syndrome whilst having no effect or even being protective against others; for example, increased age is related to worsening cognitive dysfunction and reduced functional capacity, but reduced incidence of PTSD.
