What is the prognosis of ARDS? How do patients with ARDS die?

  • Mortality rates vary substantially according to trials:
    • Reported range 23-72%
    • Range in RCTs 25-30%·
  • Mortality rate of ARDS has progressively declined over the last decade
  • Prognosis is dependent on severity of disease:
Mortality (%)
Mild
27
Moderate
32
Severe
45
  • Sepsis syndrome with multiorgan failure remains the leading cause of death
  • Refractory hypoxia and unsupportable respiratory failure is a much less common cause of death