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. 2021 Apr 7;30(8):2123–2135. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02834-0

Table 2.

Study characteristics

Parameter First author and origin of the study
Galazzi et al. [39]
Italy
Grasselli et al. [40]
Italy
Hodgson et al. [41]
Australia
O’Brien et al. [42]
Ireland
Peek et al. [43]
UK
Sanfilippo et al. [44]
Italy
Sylvestre et al. [45]
France
Wang et al. [46]
China
Study design Quantitative retrospective observational study (cohort) Quantitative prospective observational study (cohort) Quantitative retrospective observational study (cohort) Quantitative retrospective observational study (cohort) Quantitative randomized controlled trial (RCT) Quantitative prospective observational study (cohort) Quantitative retrospective observational study (cohort) Quantitative prospective observational study (cohort)
Total population (N)—HRQoL sample size
 VV-ECMO 26–17 26–18 18–15 19–13 57–52 43–33 49–22 27–24
 MV N/A 31–19 N/A N/A 46–32 N/A 36–18 63–48
Sex (M) (%)
 VV-ECMO 12 (70%) 24 (70%) 10 (48%) 7 (54%) 51 (57%) 24 (73%) 12 (55%) 18 (75%)
 MV N/A 31 (62%) N/A N/A 53 (59%) N/A 11 (61%) 33 (69%)
Age (years)
 VV-ECMO 49 (38–55) 54 (41–63) 36.3 ± 12.1 44 ± 11 39.9 ± 13.4 45.0 ± 9.8 41 (32–56) 38.0 ± 15.1
 MV N/A 54 (45–70) N/A N/A 40.4 ± 13.4 N/A 51 (43–63) 44.3 ± 15.6
VV-ECMO duration (days)
 VV-ECMO 19 (15–33) 9 (6–13) 10.6 (3.6–15.8) 15 (11–19) 9 (6–16) 10 (7–15) 12 (8–19) 6.0 ± 2.3
 MV N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
MV duration (days)
 VV-ECMO 36 (12–74) 21 (11–35) 15.3 (12.0–23.2) 3 (2–20) of pre-ECMO 10 (4.8–22.8) 2 (1–4) days pre-ECMO and 9 (4–16) days post-ECMO 36 (28–64) 10.0 (6.0–16.3)
 MV N/A 8 (5–21) N/A N/A 11 (4.0–20.3) N/A 29 (21–46) 9.0 (6.0–13.0)
ICU stay (days)
 VV-ECMO 37 (20–79) 24 (15–36) 20.7 (14.9–28.6) 31 (25–74) 24 (13.0–40.5) 2 (1–7) but only pre-ECMO 46 (34–71) 13.0 (9.8–22.3)
 MV N/A 11 (5–25) N/A N/A 13 (11–16) N/A 35 (24–47) 11.0 (8.0–18.0)
Hospital stay (days)
 VV-EMCO N/A 33 (19–48) 28.4 (18.5–37.7) N/A 35 (15.6–74.0) 4 (2–8) but only pre-ECMO 61 (45–99) 25.5 (16.5–31.3)
 MV N/A 23 (12–45) N/A N/A 17 (4.8–45.3) N/A 55 (43–90) 26.0 (15.0–56.3)
Discharge destination
 VV-ECMO N/A 92% to home; 8% to other hospital 44% to home; 50% to other hospital; 6% to rehabilitation facility 47% to referral hospital; 23% to a rehabilitation center; 31% to home N/A N/A N/A 92% to home; 8% to other hospital
 MV N/A 90% to home; 10% to other N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 90% to home; 10% to other
Follow-up time (months)
 VV-ECMO 17 (14–25) 12 8.4 (6–16) 36 (14–39) 6 2.7 (2–5) years 20 (17–22) 12.7 ± 5.8
 MV N/A 12 N/A N/A 6 N/A 22 (18–23) 14.8 ± 6.5
HRQoL assessment tool(s) EQ-5D SF-36, SGRQ, IES-R SF-36, EQ-5D SF-36, HADS, IES-R SF-36, EQ-5D, SGRQ, HADS, mini-mental examination, and specific questions about sleep SF-36, HADS, CES-D, IES-R SF-36, BDI-IA, BAI, IES SF-36, EQ-5D
Reported HRQoL outcomes Perceived QoL = 75%; 60% showed good outcomes physically and psychosocially; 71% returned to their normal working activities One-year survival was similar between VV-ECMO and MV; Both groups had almost full recovery of lung function; MV patients reported more fatigue, weakness, and limitation in daily activities; VV-ECMO survivors had higher HRQoL scores and lower PTSD rates than non-ECMO survivors Mean VV-ECMO SF-36 scores were significantly lower compared to matched healthy controls for all domains except bodily pain and role-emotional; 42% of survivors were unable to perform usual activities and described severe or extreme anxiety and depression; 80% of survivors had no problem with personal care; 52% returned to work and 29% returned to previous work level at the follow-up time Significantly lower mean SF-36 of physical functioning and physical component scores for VV-ECMO survivors. No statistical difference was found in the SF-36 scores between VV-ECMO survivors and matched general population in Ireland for the following domains: mental health, social function, vitality, and a mental component. Results from the HADS questionnaire showed that seven participants (54%) of VV-ECMO survivors experienced anxiety of which five of whom (38.5%) suffered from severe anxiety. Two participants (15%) showed a HADS-D score of ≥ 8, which is associated with depression. Three participants (23%) were considered to be at risk for PTSD. Four of the six (67%) of participants had returned to work at the follow-up time No significant differences were found between VV-ECMO and MV for EQ-5D, SF-36, St George’s hospital respiratory questionnaire, hospital anxiety and depression scale, and mini-mental state examination Physical role limitations and general-health perceptions were the worst SF-36 domains (25 and 56, respectively). Psychological tests showed high risk of depression (39–42%, patients; 39–52%, caregivers), anxiety (42% patients; 39% caregivers), and PTSD (47% patients; 61% caregivers). Patients depression or anxiety scores were correlated to age and the outcome reported by caregivers Lower cognitive function was experienced by 55% of ECMO and 56% of MV survivors. ECMO and MV survivors had similar depressive symptoms (36% vs 39%, respectively), as well as anxiety symptoms (55% vs 44%, respectively) and PTSD (33% vs 44%, respectively). At the follow-up time, 46% of VV-ECMO had returned to their original work as compared to 67% of MV survivors No statistically differences were found in EQ-between VV-ECMO and MV scores; 13% VV-ECMO and 15% MV reported fatigue and decreased endurance; 42% VV-ECMO and 27% MV reported symptoms of anxiety or depression; 67% VV-ECMO and 50% MV survivors returned to work

VV-ECMO = veno-venous extracorporeal life support, MV = mechanical ventilation (considered to be the conventional treatment group); EQ-5D = EuroQol 5-Dimensions; SF-36 = Short Form 36; SGRQ = St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire; IES-R = Impact of Event Scale-Revised; HADS = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; N/A = not available; CES-D = Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression; BDI-IA = Beck Depression Inventory; BAI = Beck Anxiety Inventory; Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (25% IQR-75% IQR)