Has mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome decreased over time?: A systematic review.
BACKGROUND
It is commonly stated that mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI) is decreasing.


OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the literature assessing ARDS mortality over time and to determine patient- and study-level factors independently associated with mortality.


METHODS
We searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL) for prospective observational studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published during the period 1984 to 2006 that enrolled 50 or more patients with ALI/ARDS and reported mortality. We pooled mortality estimates using random-effects meta-analysis and examined mortality trends before and after 1994 (when a consensus definition of ALI/ARDS was published) and factors associated with mortality using meta-regression models.


RESULTS
Of 4,966 studies, 89 met inclusion criteria (53 observational, 36 RCTs). There was a total of 18,900 patients (mean age 51.6 years; 39% female). Overall pooled weighted mortality was 44.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41.8-46.9). Mortality decreased with time in observational studies conducted before 1994; no temporal associations with mortality were demonstrated in RCTs (any time) or observational studies (after 1994). Pooled mortality from 1994 to 2006 was 44.0% (95% CI, 40.1-47.5) for observational studies, and 36.2% (95% CI, 32.1-40.5) for RCTs. Meta-regression identified study type (observational versus RCT, odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.73) and patient age (odds ratio per additional 10 yr, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.07-1.50) as the only factors associated with mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in ARDS mortality was only seen in observational studies from 1984 to 1993. Mortality did not decrease between 1994 (when a consensus definition was published) and 2006, and is lower in RCTs than observational studies.
Phua
Jason
J
F.R.C.P.C., Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, 2MCL-411M, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.
Badia
Joan R
JR
Adhikari
Neill K J
NK
Friedrich
Jan O
JO
Fowler
Robert A
RA
Singh
Jeff M
JM
Scales
Damon C
DC
Stather
David R
DR
Li
Amanda
A
Jones
Andrew
A
Gattas
David J
DJ
Hallett
David
D
Tomlinson
George
G
Stewart
Thomas E
TE
Ferguson
Niall D
ND
D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors