Integrated Telehealth Rehabilitation and Quality of Life in Mechanically Ventilated Adults

Among adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, does an integrated multicomponent telehealth-based rehabilitation intervention delivered across the intensive care unit, hospital ward, and postdischarge periods improve health-related quality of life at 90 days after hospital discharge compared with usual care?In this stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial including 1916 patients, mean quality of life utility scores at 90 days after hospital discharge were higher in the intervention group (0.16; SD, 0.31) than in the usual care group (0.12; SD, 0.28). This improvement appeared to be primarily associated with lower mortality rather than higher postdischarge quality-of-life scores among survivors.In this study, among adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, an integrated telehealth-based rehabilitation strategy spanning ICU, hospital ward, and postdischarge phases improved 90-day health-related quality of life.

Corresponding Author: Regis Goulart Rosa, MD, PhD, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 630, 10° andar, sala 1008, 90035-001, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil (regis.rosa@hmv.org.br).

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