In children who experienced acute respiratory failure, factors related to critical care, such as mechanical ventilation and inadequate pain management, were associated with worse functional status and health-related quality of life after hospital discharge, according to data published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

From 2009 to 2011, the cluster randomized RESTORE trial enrolled 2,449 children aged 2 weeks to 17 years who were mechanically ventilated for acute respiratory failure at 31 U.S. sites. The researchers conducted assessments 6 months after children’s discharge from the pediatric ICU and interviewed parents or guardians to assess children’s functional status and complete health-related quality of life questionnaires.