Ron Hays, PhD
Doctor
University of California, Los Angeles, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Cynthia Garcia
Research Coordinator
University of California, Los Angeles, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Ashley Hong
Undergradaute Student
University of California, Los Angeles, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Lucia Chen, MS
Statistician
University of California, Los Angeles, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Myrtle Yamamoto, RN
Quality Manager
UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Quality Improvement., United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
.jpg "Alina Kung, MD, MS photo")
Alina Kung, MD, MS
Resident
n/a
Los Angeles, California, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Thanh Neville, MD, MSHS
Doctor
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Title: Mental Health Outcomes Following Intensive Care Admission for COVID-19
Introduction: The long-term mental health impact of severe COVID-19 is unknown. Characterizing the psychological effects of severe COVID-19 is necessary in order to anticipate post-discharge needs and optimize recovery after admission.
Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 at two academic medical centers in Los Angeles and discharged between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Patients and caregivers received telephone calls asking them to complete mailed surveys three to six months after hospital discharge. The survey included the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®)-29 Profile v2.1 and Cognitive Function Short Form 8a V2.0 measures, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. PROMIS scales are scored on a T-score metric (mean of 50 in the U.S. general population) with higher score indicating higher severity. The UCLA Loneliness Scale ranges from 3-9; scores 3-5 are interpreted as not lonely and 6-9 lonely. The survey also assessed satisfaction with receiving aggressive life-sustaining treatment.
Results: During the study period, 275 patients were admitted to the ICU for COVID-19. Seventy patients died in the hospital and 10 patients died after discharge before receiving surveys. Out of 198 eligible patients, 131 (66%) patients completed surveys. Surveys were completed a median of 182 (IQR 173-188) days after hospital discharge. The mental health and cognitive function of patients did not differ significantly from the U.S. general population. Mental health sections of the PROMIS survey were depression (mean 49.5, SD 10.6), anxiety (mean 52.0, SD 11.9), sleep disturbance (mean 50.8, SD 10.1), and cognitive function (mean 51.9, SD 13.3). Patients were not lonely on average as indicated by the UCLA Loneliness scale (mean 4.4, SD 1.9). Ninety-seven percent of patients were glad they received aggressive life-sustaining treatment for COVID-19.
Conclusion: Six months after ICU discharge, survivors of severe COVID-19 were similar to the general US population in depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and cognitive function. Furthermore, on average, patients were not lonely. Although we do not have pre-COVID data for comparison, these results suggest excellent recovery for survivors.