Mental health symptoms in family members of COVID-19 ICU survivors 3 and 12 months after ICU admission: a multicentre prospective cohort study

Abstract

Purpose Long-term mental outcomes in family members of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) intensive care unit (ICU) survivors are unknown. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of mental health symptoms, including associated risk factors, and quality of life (QoL) in family members of COVID-19 ICU survivors 3 and 12 months post-ICU. Methods A prospective multicentre cohort study in ICUs of ten Dutch hospitals, including adult family members of COVID-19 ICU survivors admitted between March 1, and July 1, 2020. Symptom prevalence rates of anxiety, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Impact of Event Scale-6), and QoL (Short Form-12) before ICU admission (baseline), and after 3 and 12 months were measured. Additionally, associations between family and patient characteristics and mental health symptoms were calculated. Results A total of 166 out of 197 (84.3%) included family members completed the 12-month follow-up of whom 46.1% and 38.3% had mental health symptoms 3 and 12 months post-ICU, respectively; both higher compared to baseline (22.4%) ( p < 0.001). The mental component summary score of the SF-12 was lower at 12-month follow-up compared with baseline [mean difference mental component score: − 5.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) − 7.4 to − 3.6)]. Furthermore, 27.9% experienced work-related problems. Symptoms of anxiety (odds ratio (OR) 9.23; 95% CI 2.296–37.24; p = 0.002) and depression (OR 5.96; 95% CI 1.29–27.42; p = 0.02) prior to ICU admission were identified as risk factors for mental health symptoms after 12 months. Conclusion A considerable proportion of family members of COVID-19 survivors reported mental health symptoms 3 and 12 months after ICU admission, disrupting QoL and creating work-related problems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00134-021-06615-8.

Post-COVID-19 condition is not only a question of persistent symptoms: structured screening including health-related quality of life reveals two separate clusters of post-COVID

“…We observed only a slight decrease in the role emotional dimension in the participants, possibly as a result of the general measures in managing the COVID-19 pandemic [ 21 ]. This finding is in line with the results of several other studies reporting a decline in QoL among COVID-19-survivors, depending on sociodemographic factors and belief in the negative effects of recent SARS-CoV-2-infection [ 22 ], which has also been observed in family members of ICU COVID-19-survivors [ 23 ].…”

Psychosocial Distress among Family Members of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Hospital and Isolation Facilities in the Philippines: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Another study showed that the family members of COVID-19 patients experienced mental health symptoms 12 months after ICU admission of their relatives for COVID-19 infection. Family members also experienced disruption of quality of life and work-related problems [ 17 ].…”

“…Lower education level and family history of psychiatric disorder were risk factors for anxiety, and home isolation was a risk factor for depression [ 15 ]. Aside from patients, there were few studies that showed that family members taking care of COVID-19 patients also experienced mental health impacts, including anxiety and depressive symptoms [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Physical, social, mental and spiritual functioning of COVID-19 intensive care unit-survivors and their family members one year after intensive care unit-discharge: A prospective cohort study

“…Despite increasing knowledge about COVID-19, little is still known about the one-year consequences for ICU-survivors, and even less for their family members. A recently published study described the clinical outcomes of patients one year after COVID-19-related ICU-admission ( Heesakkers et al, 2022a ). Another study described the psychological consequences faced by the family members of COVID-19 ICU-survivors ( Heesakkers et al, 2022b ).…”