Improved survival of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): 1983-1993

Article Abstract:

The death rate in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) seems to have decreased from 1983 and 1993, particularly in patients who are younger than 60 years of age and those with sepsis-related ARDS. Researchers used hospital registry data to identify 918 patients with ARDS who were treated in intensive care units between 1983 and 1993. Investigators classified patients according to the cause of ARDS and assessed patients' death rate over time. Thirty-seven percent of ARDS cases were caused by sepsis, 25% were caused by trauma, and 37% were caused by other conditions. The overall death rate between 1983 and 1987 fluctuated from 53% to 68%. Between 1989 and 1993, the death rate declined and ultimately reached a low of 36%. During the study period, the death rate in people younger than age 60 decreased from 52% to 32%. The death rate in sepsis patients decreased from 67% in 1990 to 41% in 1992.

Patient outcomes, Mortality, Bacterial infections, Hospital patients

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Type III procollagen peptide in the adult respiratory distress syndrome: association of increased peptide levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with increased risk for death

Article Abstract:

Increased amounts of type III procollagen in samples recovered from lung washings appears to indicate a poor prognosis among patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Type III procollagen is a marker for increased synthesis of connective tissue fiber. Samples were taken from the lungs of 117 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome at 3, 7, and 14 days after onset of the disease. Six healthy volunteers (controls) underwent the same procedure. Procollagen III was not found in the samples from the control group. However, 80% of patients had procollagen III present. The median level of procollagen III was 1.75 units per milliliter (U ml). The relative risk of death among patients with more than the median amount of procollagen III ranged from 2.4 to 2.7 times that of patients with the median amount of procollagen or less.

Physiological aspects, Collagen, Bronchoalveolar lavage

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Reduced Quality of Life in Survivors of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Compared With Critically Ill Control Patients

Article Abstract:

People who survive acute respiratory distress (ARDS) have a lower quality of life that is specifically associated with ARDS. Researchers analyzed the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of 73 ARDS survivors and 73 comparably ill or injured patients without ARDS. Compared to the other patients, ARDS survivors had lower HRQL scores on two questionnaires that measure HRQL. Overall physical function and lung function appeared to decline the most in the ARDS survivors.

Health aspects, Quality of life

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