This observational cohort study describes long-term survival and patient-reported health after intensive care unit (ICU) treatment for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults treated in a single center in Poland. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. What is all-cause mortality up to 4 years after ICU admission for COVID-19-related ARDS?
2. Among long-term survivors, what are the health-related quality of life and functional outcomes approximately 4 years after ICU admission?
3. What rehabilitation use, return-to-work outcomes, and self-reported financial burden are reported during follow-up, and which acute-phase clinical and laboratory factors are associated with late mortality and long-term outcomes?
Participants did not receive any experimental intervention as part of this study. The study team collected clinical information from hospital and ICU records and conducted a structured telephone follow-up with survivors using standardized questionnaires (including EQ-5D-5L for quality of life, the modified Medical Research Council \[mMRC\] scale for breathlessness, and the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status \[PCFS\] scale for functional status), as well as questions about rehabilitation and work status.