Physical and emotional recovery in intensive care survivors: 12 month observational study

<bold>Introduction:</bold> The burden of critical illness survivorship is well recognised. However limited evaluation of resilience and optimism in this cohort has occurred. Resilience is the ability to adapt to adversity and optimism reflects positivity. <bold>Aims:</bold> Describe the prevalence of low optimism and resilience up to 12 months after hospital discharge; and determine the relationship between these factors and outcomes such as physical function and mood at 3 months. <bold>Methods:</bold> 68 adult ICU survivors completed assessments at 3, 6, and 12-months post hospital discharge. This included resilience (10 item Conor Davidson Resilience Scale), optimism (Revised Life Orientation test); physical function (SPPB), frailty, strength, mood (HADS) and quality of life (EQ5D). <bold>Results:</bold> One in three ICU survivors had low optimism (32% - 3 months; 39% - 6 months and 38% - 12 months). The mean optimism score was 14.7±4.6 at 3 months. Just under half (38-43%) of ICU survivors had low resilience during the 12-months. The mean resilience score was 27.2±7.2 at 3 months which is lower than population norms. There was a moderate relationship at 3 months between optimism and resilience (r=0.682, p<0.001). There was a relationship between 3-month optimism and baseline frailty (r=-0.310), and 3-month measures of anxiety (r=-0.563), depression (r=-0.648), quality of life (r=0.474) and physical function (r=0.286) (p<0.05). Resilience at 3 months was moderately related to 3 month anxiety (r=-0.516), depression (r=-0.687) and quality of life (r=0.502) (p<0.05). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Low resilience and optimism are common in ICU survivors and may need to be enhanced when designing programs aimed at improving mental and physical wellbeing.