Fig. 1

Distinct recovery trajectories before, during and after critical illness. Recovery trajectories vary depending on pre-illness health status. Black hatched lines indicate health trajectories that would have occurred if the individual had not experienced a critical illness. Previously healthy individuals who experience a less severe illness are more likely to recover to their pre-illness functional and health status compared to previously other previously healthy individuals who experience a more severe illness. For individuals with multimorbidity, particularly if they are also frail, their baseline pre-illness functional status and trajectory is likely to be worse, their recovery is likely to be slower, and they are less likely to recover to their pre-illness health and functional status. (Adapted from Iwashyna [ 12 ] and Latronico [ 15 ])