ObjectiveBaseline patient functional status as assessed by providers is correlated with mortality after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We wanted to see if patient self-perception of health status before admission to an ICU correlated with functional outcome.DesignProspective survey on a convenience sample.SettingSingle urban university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medial Center.PatientsOne hundred ninety-nine patients in surgical and medical/coronary ICUs.InterventionsNone.MeasurementsPatient-assessed baseline health status was monitored with the Medical Outcome Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36), consisting of 36 questions that evaluate eight health status concepts. In addition, baseline functional status (Zubrod scale) was determined and severity of illness (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE] II) data were collected. Zubrod functional status, which includes mortality, was determined 6 wks and 6 months after ICU admission, and correlation coefficients were calculated.Main ResultsWe found it feasible to collect SF-36 health status data on a 9% sample in this setting. Less than 1% of responses were completed by proxy. The SF-36 data were internally consistent, and several of its scales including general health perception and physical functioning correlated with patient Zubrod functional status (r2= .08, p < .001; r2= .14, p < .001) at 6 wks as did vitality (r2= .04, p < .01), social function (r2= .03, p < .05), and physical role function (r2= .02, p = .053), although to a lesser extent. Similar correlations were also found with 6-month functional status.ConclusionsWe conclude that use of the SF-36 is time efficient in an ICU setting and correlates with 6-wk and 6-month functional outcome. It correlates as well with functional outcome as either the baseline Zubrod functional status or the APACHE II severity of illness measurement. The five-question general health evaluation portion correlated almost as well with outcome as the more extensive 36-item questionnaire. Use of the SF-36 may define patient populations for comparison across hospitals. It may also target individuals with needs for additional posthospitalization care, including rehabilitation services or nursing home placement. (Crit Care Med 1999; 27:1466-1471)