Predictors of return to work in survivors of critical illness

To determine predictors of inability to return to work due to health six-months after intensive care admission; and compare functional recovery between patients who had not returned to work and employed patients.Participants were working adults admitted to ICU who received24 h of mechanical ventilation. Outcomes included inability to return to work due to health at six-months post-ICU admission, disability, health status, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.Of 107 patients, 31 (29%) were unable to return to work due to health at six-months after ICU admission. Predictors of inability to return to work included longer hospital stay (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.08; P = .004); lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission (OR, 0.86; CI, 0.75-0.99; P = .03); and admission due to major trauma (OR, 8.83; CI, 2.57-30.38; P .001). Compared to employed patients, those who had not returned to work reported higher levels of disability and psychological distress, and poorer health-related quality of life.Major trauma, lower GCS and increased hospital length of stay predicted inability to return to work due to health at six-months post-ICU admission. Compared to employed patients, those who had not returned to work reported poorer functional recovery.