Prof. Margaret Herridge: "Outcomes for Patients and Families After Critical Illness

Survivors of critical illness are left with myriad morbidities including neuromuscular and neurocognitive dysfunction, serious mood disorders and diverse medical problems. Morbidities contribute to functional disability, significant healthcare use, inability to live independently or return to work, and compromised quality of life. Family caregivers of ICU survivors also experience a traumatic life event, suffering the burden of complex care that may precipitate their own severe mood disorders and also compromise their health and well-being. An understanding of these outcomes is essential to optimize care during the critical illness and beyond to mitigate these consequences for patients and families.