Physical activity and function in survivors of critical illness after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Statistics, 2020]. As a direct result of patients admitted to the ICU, post-ICU patients are susceptible to high levels of physical inactivity, as well as reductions in physical function, exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that can contribute to a prolonged recovery period that may last for several months or years in some patients. Follow-up provision following critical illness has evolved in different ways around the UK.

The availability of these healthcare and support services following critical illness throughout the UK have been reported to play a valuable role in the recovery of physical, emotional and psychological recovery following discharge from the intensive care unit. Currently in Northern Ireland there are no organised rehabilitation services offered to patients after discharge home from critical illness, and the urgent need for research in the area has been highlighted in recent guidelines.

There is a paucity of research exploring outcomes specifically related to physical activity and physical function in the post-ICU population; previous post-ICU studies have predominately focused on short-term recovery trajectories (< 6 months). This thesis focuses on survivors of critical illness following hospital discharge (up to 1-year) from the ICU.