Chronic pain in survivors of critical illness: a retrospective analysis of incidence and risk factors.

Ceri E Battle,Hayley Hutchings,Simon Lovett

doi:10.1186/cc12746

Abstract

IntroductionChronic pain has been reported in survivors of critical illness for many years after discharge from hospital. This study investigates the incidence and site of chronic pain in survivors of critical illness between 6 months and 1 year after hospitalization, including ICU admission. A retrospective analysis of the risk factors for chronic pain in this patient group was also completed.MethodsA questionnaire method was used to investigate the incidence of chronic pain and the specific body parts affected. A retrospective study and multivariable analysis were used to investigate the risk factors for chronic pain in this patient group. All survivors of a general intensive care unit (ICU) in South Wales in a 6-month period were included in this study.ResultsChronic pain was reported in 44% of all respondents. The shoulder was the most commonly reported joint affected by pain (22%). Risk factors for chronic pain between 6 months and 1 year after ICU discharge were increasing patient age and severe sepsis.ConclusionsChronic pain is a problem in survivors of critical illness, especially in the shoulder joint, and further studies are needed investigating therapeutic interventions that address this long-term problem.

Highlights

Chronic pain has been reported in survivors of critical illness for many years after discharge from hospital
A similar review investigating quality of life after intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization reported a higher rate of chronic pain in patients who had been diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) when compared with the matched normal population [6]
404 patients were identified as having an ICU admission in the 6-month period investigated

Summary

Introduction

Chronic pain has been reported in survivors of critical illness for many years after discharge from hospital. Critical illness is well recognized as being associated with a number of detrimental long-term sequelae that can affect health-related quality of life for up to 5 years after ICU discharge [1]. The long-term outcomes more commonly investigated in critical care research include quality of life, physical fitness, functional capacity, and various psychological factors [3,4]. A similar review investigating quality of life after ICU hospitalization reported a higher rate of chronic pain in patients who had been diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) when compared with the matched normal population [6]. A number of longitudinal studies have investigated the length of time patients still experience pain and discomfort after ICU hospitalization, including a recent study that reported that at a mean follow-up of 8 years, pain and discomfort was reported in 57% of patients [9]

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