Intensive Care Unit Follow-up Research Articles

Invasive fungal infections in patients with acute leukemia: A retrospective cohort study at a tertiary-care hospital

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in acute leukemia patients. In the past few decades, the incidence of IFI has dramatically increased. Nevertheless, the management of IFI has become more complicated owing to changes in the epidemiology of fungal diseases and therapeutic regimens. Therefore, it is important to establish an appropriate strategy for centers that provide the diagnosis and treatment of acute leukemia patients based on scientific data and with available resources. In this study we investigated the incidence of IFI, pathogens, the use of diagnostic methods, and risk factors for IFI in acute leukemia patients over a 17-year period. A total of 502 acute leukemia patients (male/female: 57%/43%, mean age: 57.7 ± 15.5 years) hospitalized at adult and oncology hospitals between 2003 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. The incidence of proven and probable IFI was 13.2% (33.1%, when possible cases were included). The most common IFI was aspergillosis (49 patients, 9.7%), followed by candidemia, mucormycosis, and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. The galactomannan antigen test was positive in the serum of 39 (23.5%) patients and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in 6 (3.6%) patients. Thirteen (7.8%) sputum cultures (11 Aspergillus spp. and 2 Candida spp.) and 4 (2.4%) BAL fluid (1 Aspergillus spp., 2 Candida spp., 1 P jirovecii) were positive for a fungal pathogen. Neutropenia, intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up and mechanical ventilation (MV) increased the risk of IFI by 3.5, 2.5, and 1.8 times, respectively. The median survival was 5 (range: 1.9–8) months. ICU follow-up shortened the survival by 12 months and increased the death risk by 2.49-fold. MV shortened survival by 57 months and increased the death risk by 3.82-fold. IFI remains a significant contributor to the morbidity and mortality in acute leukemia patients. Pulmonary involvement is the most common site. Neutropenia, ICU follow-up and MV are associated with an increased risk for IFI and mortality. We recommend in the IFI approach, to be aware of IFI in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy and/or recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and to evaluate with microbiological, serological and radiological tests during the clinical follow-up.

Using augmented intelligence to improve long term outcomes.

For augmented intelligence (AI) tools to realize their potential, critical care clinicians must ensure they are designed to improve long-term outcomes. This overview is intended to align professionals with the state-of-the art of AI. Many AI tools are undergoing preliminary assessment of their ability to support the care of survivors and their caregivers at multiple time points after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. The domains being studied include early identification of deterioration (physiological, mental), management of impaired physical functioning, pain, sleep and sexual dysfunction, improving nutrition and communication, and screening and treatment of cognitive impairment and mental health disorders.Several technologies are already being marketed and many more are in various stages of development. These technologies mostly still require clinical trials outcome testing. However, lacking a formal regulatory approval process, some are already in use. Plans for long-term management of ICU survivors must account for the development of a holistic follow-up system that incorporates AI across multiple platforms. A tiered post-ICU screening program may be established wherein AI tools managed by ICU follow-up clinics provide appropriate assistance without human intervention in cases with less pathology and refer severe cases to expert treatment.

Assessment of right ventricular sequelae by speckle tracking echocardiography in recovered COVID-19 patients

Background TTE is the main modality used to assess RV function, but conventional TTE parameters have limited diagnostic value because they may fail to detect early abnormalities in RV systolic function. Due to its ability to detect subclinical impairment of cardiac function, 2D STE has been widely used to investigate RV function. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there are sequelae of RV function in recovered COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement. Methods This is a prospective observational cohort study of 57 healthy volunteers and 54 patients. Participants had no history of chronic illness and no evidence of respiratory or cardiac symptoms. The patients had been hospitalised with COVID-19 with pulmonary involvement but did not require intensive care unit follow-up or non-invasive mechanical ventilation support. TTE was performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics and laboratory test results were collected. Results LVEF, TAPSE, St and FAC were significantly lower in the patient group. LV-LS 3-chamber, LV-GLS, RV-FWS, RV-GLS were significantly lower in the patient group. Conclusions RV-LS and LV-GLS were shown to decrease in the patient group. Although no obvious pathological values were observed in RV parameters on conventional echocardiography, TAPSE, St and FAC values were lower in the patient group.

Use of Fresh Frozen Plasma in a Dramatic Case of ACE-Inhibitor Associated Angioedema

Angioedema describes a non-dependent, non-pitting and transient edema caused by the accumulation of vasoactive substances in the circulation. These vasoactive substances increase vascular permeability, causing swelling of the deep dermal, submucosal or subcutaneous tissues of the face, lips, neck, extremities or gastrointestinal tract. Urticaria may or may not accompany this condition. Angioedema is generally mediated through two pathways: histamine-mediated and bradykinin-mediated. Histamine-mediated angioedema generally responds to standard therapeutic measures (such as antihistamines, steroids and epinephrine), whereas bradykinin-mediated angioedema can be more difficult to manage in emergency departments (ED). Here, we present a patient who presented to our ED with bradykinin-mediated ACE-I-associated dramatic angioedema clinic, did not respond to standard treatments, rapidly improved with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) administration and was discharged after 6 days of follow-up in the emergency critical intensive care unit.

A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Haloperidol and Dexmedetomidine on QTc Interval Prolongation during Delirium Treatment in Intensive Care Units.

Haloperidol and dexmedetomidine are used to treat delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). The effects of these drugs on the corrected QT (QTc) interval have not been compared before. It was aimed to compare the effects of haloperidol and dexmedetomidine treatment on QTc intervals in patients who developed delirium during ICU follow-up. The study is single-center, randomized, and prospective. Half of the patients diagnosed with delirium in the ICU were treated with haloperidol and the other half with dexmedetomidine. The QTc interval was measured in the treatment groups before and after drug treatment. The study's primary endpoints were maximal QT and QTc interval changes after drug administration. 90 patients were included in the study, the mean age was 75.2±12.9 years, and half were women. The mean time to delirium was 142+173.8 hours, and 53.3% of the patients died during their ICU follow-up. The most common reason for hospitalization in the ICU was sepsis (%37.8.). There was no significant change in QT and QTc interval after dexmedetomidine treatment (QT: 360.5±81.7, 352.0±67.0, p= 0.491; QTc: 409.4±63.1, 409.8±49.7, p=0.974). There was a significant increase in both QT and QTc interval after haloperidol treatment (QT: 363.2±51.1, 384.6±59.2, p=0.028; QTc: 409.4±50.9, 427.3±45.9, p=0.020). Based on the results obtained from the study, it can be concluded that the administration of haloperidol was associated with a significant increase in QT and QTc interval. In contrast, the administration of dexmedetomidine did not cause a significant change in QT and QTc interval.

Peer support in intensive care unit follow-up: A qualitative evaluation.

Patients formerly admitted to an intensive care unit and their relatives seek information about life after critical illness to understand their symptoms and what to expect as survivors, and they express a desire to talk to others with similar experiences. Various operational models of post-intensive care peer support exist, and studies have reported potential beneficial mechanisms in patients involved in peer support programs. However, most models have not been formally evaluated. To evaluate the content and setting of structured group meetings and explore participants' experiences of meeting peers. A qualitative evaluation combining focused ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews with 22 participants attending three intensive care unit café meetings in a university hospital. A thematic analysis was conducted using all data collected. Three main themes emerged; 'Accommodating the diversity of patients and relatives', 'A range of possibilities for identification' and 'A newfound community'. Findings indicate that the content, setting and timing of the café meetings were of minor concern for the participants. Patients and relatives should attend together because the consequences of surviving a critical illness affect both. Larger groups of participants appeared to increase the likelihood of encountering broad variances in participants' experiences from the critical illness trajectory. The findings indicate that before attending a meeting, the participants did not find previous experiences sufficient in managing their new life situations and they felt alone in their experiences. Peer support invited participants into a secure community and eased their sense of being alone in their struggles. Meeting peers seemed to be more important than following a specific model of peer support. When setting up peer support for former intensive care patients, the most important aspect is to create a secure space for patients and their relatives to meet.

Pediatric intensive care unit follow-up: Thinking before acting

ObjectiveIt is now well established that post-intensive care syndrome is frequent in critically ill children after discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Nevertheless, post-intensive care follow-up is highly heterogenous worldwide and is not considered routine care in many countries. The purpose of this viewpoint was to report the reflections of the French PICU society working group on how to implement post-PICU follow-up. MethodsA working group was set up within the Groupe Francophone de Reanimation et d’Urgences Pédiatriques (GFRUP) to provide conceptual and practical guidance for developing post-PICU follow-up. The working group included psychologists, PICU physicians, physiotherapists, and nurses, from different French PICUs. Five virtual meetings have been held. ResultsFirst, we described in this work the objectives of the follow-up program and the population to be targeted. We also provided a framework to implement post-PICU follow-up in clinical practice. Finally, we detailed the potential obstacles and challenges to consider. ConclusionAlthough implementing a post-PICU follow-up program is a challenge, the benefits could be significant for both patient and relatives, as well as for the health care professionals involved.

Intensive care unit follow-up clinic activities: a scoping review.

The importance of ongoing post-discharge follow-up to prevent functional impairment in patients discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) is being increasingly recognized. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review, which included existing ICU follow-up clinic methodologies using the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases from their inception to December 2022. Data were examined for country or region, outpatient name, location, opening days, lead profession, eligible patients, timing of the follow-up, and assessment tools. Twelve studies were included in our review. The results obtained revealed that the methods employed by ICU follow-up clinics varied among countries and regions. The names of outpatient follow-up clinics also varied; however, all were located within the facility. These clinics were mainly physician or nurse led; however, pharmacists, physical therapists, neuropsychologists, and social workers were also involved. Some clinics were limited to critically ill patients with sepsis or those requiring ventilation. Ten studies reported the first outpatient visit 1-3months after discharge. All studies assessed physical function, cognitive function, mental health, and the health-related quality of life. This scoping review revealed that an optimal operating format for ICU follow-up clinics needs to be established according to the categories of critically ill patients.

The Current State of Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Programs in North America: A Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium Report.

This study aimed to determine neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up (NDFU) practices across academic centers. This study was a cross-sectional survey that addressed center-specific neonatal NDFU practices within the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC). Survey response rate was 76%, and 97% of respondents had a formal NDFU program. Programs were commonly staffed by neonatologists (80%), physical therapists (77%), and nurse practitioners (74%). Median gestational age at birth identified for follow-up was ≤32 weeks (range 26-36). Median duration was 3 years (range 2-18). Ninety-seven percent of sites used Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, but instruments used varied across ages. Scores were recorded in discrete electronic data fields at 43% of sites. Social determinants of health data were collected by 63%. Care coordination and telehealth services were not universally available. NDFU clinics are almost universal within CHNC centers. Commonalities and variances in practice highlight opportunities for data sharing and development of best practices. · Neonatal NDFU clinics help transition high-risk infants home.. · Interdisciplinary neonatal intensive care unit follow-up brings together previously separated outpatient service lines.. · This study reviews the current state of neonatal NDFU in North America..

Lessons Learned From Three Patients Who Underwent Cesarean Section and Cardiac Valvular Surgery Simultaneously: Anesthesiologists’ Perspective

Background: Cardiac valvular disease constitutes a challenge during pregnancy. Herein, we present our experience with three patients who underwent caesarean section and cardiac valvular surgery simultaneously. The purpose of this case series was to outline the clinical characteristics and to highlight the surgical/anesthesiologic pitfalls to be considered in patients who will undergo cardiac valvular surgery and caesarean section simultaneously. Methods: This retrospective case series was implemented using data extracted from the medical files of three patients who underwent cardiac valvular surgery and caesarean section in the obstetrics and gynecology and cardiovascular surgery departments of our tertiary care center. Demographic data, history, echocardiographic findings, surgical and anesthesiologic techniques as well as perioperative information and therapeutic outcomes were recorded. Results: Three pregnant women with an average age of 33.67 years were diagnosed with various cardiac valvular pathologies on the 3rd trimester. Owing to their diminished cardiac reserves and clear indications for cesarean section, the patients underwent cardiac valvular surgery subsequent to the cesarean section. Procedures were completed successfully on all patients and mothers and infants were discharged after a maternal follow-up in intensive care unit. Conclusion: We suggest that cardiac valve surgery can be performed simultaneously just after cesarean section in selected cases. Risks and benefits must be analyzed well prior to the decision making for the absolute necessity of the invasive procedure. Close collaboration between disciplines, well equipped referral centers, trained personnel and increased awareness on possible complications are the key points for successful surgical management of pregnant women with cardiac valve disease.

The pediatric intensive care unit in France: What happens afterwards?

Although pediatric post-intensive care syndrome is frequent and impacts the child's quality of life in various aspects, there are currently no guidelines regarding post-pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) follow-up. The aim of this study was to describe post-PICU follow-up in France. Among the 37 French PICUs, only 67 % had a consultation service, mostly performed by pediatric intensivists (95 %). Post-intensive care evaluation was the main objective for 46 % of these centers, whereas others focused on specific patient populations. Post-intensive care follow-up is highly heterogeneous and developing such consultation services appears to be a main challenge for PICU teams.

The feasibility and acceptability of a physician-led ICU follow-up service: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundIncreased recognition of post–intensive care syndrome has led to widespread development of intensive care follow-up services internationally. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up clinic in Australia for patients and their caregivers and to describe satisfaction with this service. MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study in a mixed tertiary ICU in Australia. Eligible patients were adults admitted to the ICU for 7 days or more and/or ventilated for 48 h or more, as well as their primary caregiver. Patients and their primary caregivers were invited to attend a follow-up clinic 4–8 weeks after hospital discharge. The clinic appointment was attended by an ICU physician and nurse, with multidisciplinary support. Feasibility and acceptability were defined as the proportion of clinic attendance and frequency of interventions initiated at the clinic. Satisfaction was measured by a 5-point satisfaction survey (very dissatisfied to very satisfied). The burden of ongoing disease was reported via multiple validated instruments. ResultsFrom April 2020–July 2021, 386 patients met the inclusion criteria. Only 146 patients were approached for consent due to site staffing limitations. Eighty-three patients and 32 caregivers consented to attend the clinic. Seventy percent (54/77) of patients attended scheduled appointments and 50% (16/32) of caregivers. For patients, 23 medical referrals were made, 8 patients had medication changes, and 10 patients were offered social work support. Satisfaction surveys were completed by 65% (35/54) of attending patients; 97% (34) patients reported either being ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the service. All responding caregivers (10) were either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the clinic. ConclusionThere were a large number of patients meeting the inclusion criteria to the ICU follow-up clinic, and clinic attendance was moderate for patients but lower for caregivers. Reported satisfaction with the service was high for both patients and their caregiver.

Critical illness survivors' experiences of attending an intensive care unit follow-up service: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of this review is to explore critical illness survivors' experiences of attending an intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up service. A significant proportion of critical illness survivors will require ICU follow-up care to support adverse symptoms in health domains, including cognition, mental health, and physical and social function. While there is consensus on the need for ICU follow-up services, systematic reviews to date have not identified any significant impact of ICU follow-up services on clinical health outcomes. An understanding of survivors' experiences of attending an ICU follow-up service may improve the effectiveness and design of such services. This review will include studies that explore the experiences of adult ( 18 years of age) critical illness survivors who attended an ICU follow-up service following discharge from an ICU, regardless of the admitting diagnosis or ICU length of stay. This review will be conducted in line with the JBI methodological framework for qualitative systematic reviews. Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection, will be searched to identify relevant studies for inclusion in the review. Studies will be screened by 2 independent reviewers. Critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis will be completed by 2 independent reviewers using a meta-aggregation method for data synthesis. Confidence in the research findings will be assessed and assigned a ConQual score. PROSPERO CRD42023404585.

Piloting an ICU follow-up clinic to improve health-related quality of life in ICU survivors after a prolonged intensive care stay (PINA): feasibility of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

BackgroundICU survivors often suffer from prolonged physical and mental impairments resulting in the so called “Post-Intensive Care Syndrome” (PICS). The aftercare of former ICU patients affected by PICS in particular has not been addressed sufficiently in Germany so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a pragmatic randomised trial (RCT) comparing an intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up clinic intervention to usual care.MethodsThis pilot study in a German university hospital evaluated the feasibility of a pragmatic RCT. Patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an ICU follow-up clinic intervention or to usual care. The concept of this follow-up clinic was previously developed in a participatory process with patients, next of kin, health care professionals and researchers. We performed a process evaluation and determined acceptability, fidelity, completeness of measurement instruments and practicality as feasibility outcomes. The RCT’s primary outcome (health-related quality of life) was assessed six months after ICU discharge by means of the physical component scale of the Short-Form-12 self-report questionnaire.ResultsThe pilot study was conducted from June 2020 to May 2021 with 21 and 20 participants in the intervention and control group. Principal findings related to feasibility were 85% consent rate (N = 48), 62% fidelity rate, 34% attrition rate (N = 41) and 77% completeness of outcome measurements. The primary effectiveness outcome (health-related quality of life) could be measured in 93% of participants who completed the study (N = 27). The majority of participants (85%) needed assistance with follow-up questionnaires (practicality). Median length of ICU stay was 13 days and 85% (N = 41) received mechanical ventilation, median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score was nine. Six-month follow-up assessment was planned for all study participants and performed for 66% (N = 41) of the participants after 197 days (median).ConclusionThe participatory developed intervention of an ICU follow-up clinic and the pragmatic pilot RCT both seem to be feasible. We recommend to start a pragmatic RCT on the effectiveness of the ICU follow-up clinic.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov US NLM, NCT04186468, Submission: 02/12/2019, Registration: 04/12/2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04186468

An Evaluation of Mid-upper Arm Circumference Measurement in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Follow-up Population

An Evaluation of Mid-upper Arm Circumference Measurement in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Follow-up Population

The Value of Lymphocyte-CRP Ratio Predicting the Prognosis in COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: Although prevention of the disease and its spread is the primary goal in the fight against the pandemic, studies on the correct management of those who have the disease and the predictability of the prognosis are also important. This study aimed to determine whether lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio, together with other inflammation markers, would be useful in predicting intensive care unit admission and mortality in Coronavirus disease 2019 cases. Material and methods: 883 patients were followed in 758 wards and 125 intensive care units. Data of the patients included in the study were compared with those admitted to the service and intensive care unit, and with those who survived and developed mortality. Results: According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis to distinguish the patients followed in the intensive care unit from the patients hospitalized in the ward that was determined that lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio, C-reactive protein ratio, CRP-albumin ratio, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were moderate (70%–80%). D-dimer was good (80%–90%) predicting follow-up in intensive care unit. Increase in age, increase in lactate dehydrogenase and interleukin-6 levels, and uptake in tomography were determined as independent risk factors that increase intensive care unit admission. 243 (27.5%) of the patients were mortal. The mean age of the patients with a mortal course was 70±14 years, and mortality increased with increasing age. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis of patients with a mortal course that was determined that lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and D-dimer had a good (80–90%) ability to distinguish patients with a mortal course. Age, fever, and increases in lactate dehydrogenase and interleukin-6 levels were determined to be independent risk factors increasing mortality. Conclusions: Low lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio and high D-Dimer, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and CRP-albumin ratio can be used in clinical monitoring to reduce morbidity and mortality rates due to COVID-19.

Fragmentation of care between intensive and primary care settings and opportunities for improvement

PurposeTo explore the gaps in care provided across the transitions from the intensive care unit (ICU) to primary care, in order to improve post-ICU care.MethodsSemistructured interviews with three participant groups:...

Effect of Serum Uric Acid Level on Severity of Respiratory Failure and Mortality in COVID-19 Critical Patients

Objective: Routine laboratory parameters such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, ferritin, d-dimer are used to estimate the clinical severity and mortality of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Because of the limited specificity of these parameters and their variability between patients, more specific parameters are needed. It is thought that there may be a relationship between uric acid levels and the severity and mortality of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively investigate the relationship between daily serum uric acid measurements in the first 10 days of follow-up in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and mortality. Methods: With the approval of the ethics committee, 151 eligible patients were screened through the ICU patient records and routine laboratory data on the computer. Serum uric acid measurements, demographic and clinical characteristics, IMV needs and mortality rates at the first admission to the hospital and in the first 10 days in the ICU were recorded retrospectively. Results: In the analysis, rate of IMV was 60.3% and mortality was 53.6%. No significant correlation was found between the uric acid levels measured at the time of first hospitalization and in the ICU follow-up and the need for IMV. In the comparison between deceased and survived patient groups; the uric acid levels were found to be higher on the 3rd and 4th days of the ICU in the deceased group than in the survivors (p=0.023, p=0.037, respectively). Conclusion: The increase in uric acid levels on the 3rd and 4th days in COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission seems to be significant in the estimation of mortality. Serum uric acid level can be a useful parameter in determining the prognosis in the ICU follow-up of this group patients. Keywords: Intensive care, uric acid, COVID 19, mortality, mechanical ventilation

High AST/ALT Ratio Is Associated with Cardiac Involvement in Acute COVID-19 Patients.

Background and Objectives: We aimed to assess the effect of AST/ALT ratio on echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) parameters after COVID-19 patients recover. Materials and Methods: 87 patients with COVID-19 were included in the study. The patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia, but the patients did not need intensive care unit follow-up or non-invasive mechanical ventilation support. After a discharge and two weeks following the positive swab test result, patients were considered eligible if they had any symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed within 24 h prior to CMRI. The median value of AST/ALT ratio was found, and the study population was divided into two subgroups based on the median AST/ALT ratio value. The clinical features, blood test, TTE and CMRI results were compared between subgroups. Results: C-reactive protein, D-dimer and fibrinogen were found to be significantly higher in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. LVEF, TAPSE, S', and FAC were significantly lower in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. LV-GLS were significantly lower in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. In CMRI, native T1 mapping signal, native T2 mapping signal and extracellular volume raised significantly in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. Right ventricle stroke volume and right ventricle ejection fraction were significantly lower in patients with high AST/ALT ratio, but right ventricle end systolic volume was significantly higher in patients with high AST/ALT ratio. Conclusion: High AST/ALT ratio is related to impaired right ventricular function parameters with CMRI and echocardiography after recovery from acute COVID-19. Assessment of AST/ALT ratio at hospital admission may be used to assess the risk of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 disease, and these patients may require closer follow-up during and after the course of COVID-19.

Follow-up focused on psychological intervention initiated after intensive care unit in adult patients and informal caregivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psychological dysfunction is one of the considerable health-related outcomes among critically-ill patients and their informal caregivers. Follow-up of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors has been conducted in a variety of different ways, with different timing after discharge, targets of interest (physical, psychological, social) and measures used. Of diverse ICU follow-up, the effects of follow-ups which focused on psychological interventions are unknown. Our research question was whether follow-up with patients and their informal caregivers after ICU discharge improved mental health compared to usual care. We published a protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis in https://www.protocols.io/ (https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bvjwn4pe). We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo from their inception to May 2022. We included randomized controlled trials for follow-ups after ICU discharge and focused on psychological intervention for critically ill adult patients and their informal caregivers. We synthesized primary outcomes, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and adverse events using the random-effects method. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to rate the certainty of evidence. From the 10,471 records, we identified 13 studies (n=3,366) focusing on patients and four (n=538) focusing on informal caregivers. ICU follow-up for patients resulted in little to no difference in the prevalence of depression (RR 0.89, 95% CI [0.59-1.34]; low-certainty evidence) and PTSD (RR 0.84, 95% CI [0.55-1.30]; low-certainty evidence) among patients; however, it increased the prevalence of depression (RR 1.58 95% CI [1.01-2.46]; very low-certainty evidence), PTSD (RR 1.36, 95% CI [0.91-2.03]; very low-certainty evidence) among informal caregivers. The evidence for the effect of ICU follow-up on adverse events among patients was insufficient. Eligible studies for informal caregivers did not define any adverse event. The effect of follow-ups after ICU discharge that focused on psychological intervention should be uncertain.