[Long-term health-related quality of life of patients after prolonged weaning depending on weaning status].

Introduction: Long-term outcome in patients with prolonged weaning is known to be impaired, particularly against the background of their weaning status; however, data on their health-related quality of life (HRQL) are sparse.

Methods: HRQL was measured in patients with prolonged weaning using the Severe Respiratory Insufficiency Questionnaire (SRI).

Results: Overall, 39 out of 83 patients with prolonged weaning filled in the SRI questionnaire. The median interval between discharge from hospital and HRQL assessment was 3.5 years (IQR 2.4-4.5 years). In the total group, the median SRI summary score was 56.4 (IQR 38.8-73.5). Patients with unsuccessful weaning and subsequent invasive home mechanical ventilation (N=15) had worse HRQL as estimated from the SRI summary score when compared to those with successful weaning both without (n=13) and with subsequent long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) (n=11); Kruskal-Wallis-Test: H (2, n=39) = 7,875446; P=0.0195. Statistically significant differences indicating worse HRQL in patients with invasive home mechanical ventilation were particularly evident in the following SRI subscales: Social relationships (P=0.0325), Anxiety (P=0.0096), and Psychological well-being (P=0.0079).

Conclusions: HRQL is substantially impaired in patients with unsuccessful prolonged weaning and subsequent invasive home mechanical ventilation compared to those with successful prolonged weaning. Further studies incorporating higher case numbers are needed to assess other conditions potentially affecting HRQL in patients with prolonged weaning.