Acute respiratory distress syndrome: 5-year follow-up

摘要

Studies of outcome after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have not gone beyond 2 years. Now, 5-year data have been reported from four centres in Toronto, Canada.One hundred and nine survivors of ARDS (median age, 44 years at onset of ARDS) were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months and 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after the acute episode. At 5 years, the median 6-minute walk distance was 436 m (76% of predicted). The average score on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-ltem Short-Form Health Survey was 41 (mean normal for age and sex, 50). Younger patients had better scores and recovered faster than older patients, but neither returned to normal. Pulmonary function was normal or close to normal. Both patients and family caregivers had physical and psychological problems for up to 5 years.