Promising aftercare for vulnerable patients in ICU

ICU researchers Mark van den Boogaard and Marieke Zegers will receive a ZonMw/ZIN grant of 1.6 million euros for their research into cost-effectiveness of multidisciplinary, structured and personalized post-ICU care.

More and more people are surviving the critical illness for which they have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, half of these ICU survivors experience a variety of physical, cognitive and mental problems, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, memory and concentration problems, or anxiety; months to years after ICU admission. Often these problems get no attention or are not recognized, whereby former ICU patients do not receive appropriate post ICU care. This leads to a worsening of problems, difficulties with returning to work and financial and social problems.

Various hospitals in the Netherlands have set up post ICU clinics, but whether this aftercare leads to better health is unknown. As a result, this care is not reimbursed by the health insurers.

For this reason, the Radboudumc, in collaboration with Canisius Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis (both Nijmegen), Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis (Den-Bosch), Rijnstate (Arnhem) and Bernhoven Ziekenhuis (Uden), are initiating this study with the following question: What is the cost-effectiveness of structured, multidisciplinary and personalized post ICU care compared to unstructured aftercare?

The project will start in mid-2021 and the first results are expected in 2024.

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