New life after near death: Surviving critical COVID-19 infection

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored the illness perceptions, experiences or attitudes towards the future of survivors of critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Through in-depth qualitative interviews, we aimed to enrich our understanding of participants’ perspectives, with the hope of offering more holistic and appropriate care to future patients. METHODS: Participants who had survived critical COVID-19 illness (defined as a laboratory or clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, with hypoxia requiring high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or mechanical ventilation) were invited to participate. After informed consent procedures, clinic-demographic details were documented and individual interviews conducted using a topic guide, and were audio-recorded, translated, transcribed and coded into NVivo software where themes were extracted. RESULTS: Of 21 participants (13 female, 8 male), the mean age was 51.8 years (range 34 - 68), and mean duration of COVID symptoms was 21.7 days (range 17 - 37). Eighteen participants had been on HFNO, and 5 required mechanical ventilation. The major themes were: distressing experience; faith-based beliefs sustaining them; gratitude to healthcare workers (HCWs); better understanding of COVID and how dangerous it is; optimism for the future; and a resolve to implement lifestyle changes. CONCLUSION: Qualitative interviews revealed our participants’ experience of severe COVID-19 as a difficult and terrifying ordeal, mitigated by faith-based beliefs, and the presence and care of HCWs. These experiences were reported by the participants as life changing, and all were inspired to focus on future self-care, and invest in fulfilling relationships. These insights call for future interventions to improve patient-centred care, including follow-up debriefing sessions, and support for lifestyle changes.