• Elie Azoulay, Matthieu Resche-Rigon, Bruno Megarbane, Danielle Reuter, Vincent Labbé, Alain Cariou, Guillaume Géri, Guillaume Van der Meersch, Achille Kouatchet, Olivier Guisset, Fabrice Bruneel, Jean Reignier, Virginie Souppart, François Barbier, Laurent Argaud, QuenotJean-PierreJPMedical Intensive Care Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France., Laurent Papazian, Bertrand Guidet, Guillaume Thiéry, Kada Klouche, Olivier Lesieur, Alexandre Demoule, Christophe Guitton, Gilles Capellier, Bruno Mourvillier, Lucie Biard, Frédéric Pochard, and Nancy Kentish-Barnes.
• Famirea Study Group, Medical Intensive Care Unit, APHP, Saint Louis University Hospital, Paris, France.
• JAMA. 2022 Mar 15; 327 (11): 104210501042-1050.

ImportancePersistent physical and mental disorders are frequent in survivors of COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, data on these disorders among family members are scarce.ObjectiveTo determine the association between patient hospitalization for COVID-19 ARDS vs ARDS from other causes and the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms in family members.Design, Setting, And ParticipantsProspective cohort study in 23 intensive care units (ICUs) in France (January 2020 to June 2020 with final follow-up ending in October 2020). ARDS survivors and family members (1 family member per patient) were enrolled.ExposuresFamily members of patients hospitalized for ARDS due to COVID-19 vs ARDS due to other causes.Main Outcomes And MeasuresThe primary outcome was family member symptoms of PTSD at 90 days after ICU discharge, measured by the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (score range, 0 [best] to 88 [worst]; presence of PTSD symptoms defined by score >22). Secondary outcomes were family member symptoms of anxiety and depression at 90 days assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (score range, 0 [best] to 42 [worst]; presence of anxiety or depression symptoms defined by subscale scores ≥7). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association between COVID-19 status and outcomes.ResultsAmong 602 family members and 307 patients prospectively enrolled, 517 (86%) family members (median [IQR] age, 51 [40-63] years; 72% women; 48% spouses; 26% bereaved because of the study patient's death; 303 [50%] family members of COVID-19 patients) and 273 (89%) patients (median [IQR] age, 61 [50-69] years; 34% women; 181 [59%] with COVID-19) completed the day-90 assessment. Compared with non-COVID-19 ARDS, family members of patients with COVID-19 ARDS had a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms of PTSD (35% [103/293] vs 19% [40/211]; difference, 16% [95% CI, 8%-24%]; P < .001), symptoms of anxiety (41% [121/294] vs 34% [70/207]; difference, 8% [95% CI, 0%-16%]; P= .05), and symptoms of depression (31% [91/291] vs 18% [37/209]; difference, 13% [95% CI, 6%-21%]; P< .001). In multivariable models adjusting for age, sex, and level of social support, COVID-19 ARDS was significantly associated with increased risk of PTSD-related symptoms in family members (odds ratio, 2.05 [95% CI, 1.30 to 3.23]).Conclusions And RelevanceAmong family members of patients hospitalized in the ICU with ARDS, COVID-19 disease, as compared with other causes of ARDS, was significantly associated with increased risk of symptoms of PTSD at 90 days after ICU discharge.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04341519.

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