Epidemiology and Genetics

To assess pulmonary function and quality of life at 1 year after surviving ARDS, Orme and coworkers studied 66 patients who had been entered in a trial of high versus low tidal volumes. Pulmonary function at 1 year was not affected by the setting of tidal volume. About 80% of survivors had reduced diffusing capacity, 20% had airflow obstruction, and 20% had chest restriction. Scores for depression and anxiety were within the normal range. Measures of quality of life were decreased: decreased physical functioning, physical ability to maintain roles, body pain, general health, and vitality. Abnormalities in pulmonary function were correlated with decreases in health-related quality of life for domains reflecting physical function. The authors conclude that survivors of ARDS exhibit abnormal pulmonary function at 1 year, which is related to decreased quality of life.

To determine whether ARDS complicating bacteremic sepsis has an independent effect on mortality, Eggimann and coworkers analyzed data on 4,530 admissions to an ICU. There were 196 cases of bacteremic sepsis and 31 (16%) of these patients developed ARDS. On Cox proportional hazards regression, ARDS was associated with increased mortality (unadjusted hazard ratio, 1.8). After adjusting for comorbid factors present before the onset of sepsis, ARDS was still associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.2). After adjusting for nonpulmonary organ dysfunction and microbiologic factors, ARDS was not associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.6). The authors conclude that ARDS complicating bacteremic sepsis is not independently associated with short-term mortality once the severity of illness and nonpulmonary organ dysfunction have been taken into account.

Citations 1-2 of 2 total displayed.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome after Bacteremic Sepsis Does Not Increase Mortality

Philippe Eggimann, Stephan Harbarth, Bara Ricou, Stephane Hugonnet, Karin Ferriere, Peter Suter, and Didier Pittet
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 1210 -1214. First published online as doi:10.1164/rccm.200210-1196OC [Abstract] [Full text]

Pulmonary Function and Health-related Quality of Life in Survivors of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

James Orme, Jr., Joshua S. Romney, Ramona O. Hopkins, Donna Pope, Karen J. Chan, George Thomsen, Robert O. Crapo, and Lindell K. Weaver
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 690 -694. First published online as doi:10.1164/rccm.200206-542OC [Abstract] [Full text]

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