title: Functional disability 5 years after acute respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few detailed, in-person interviews and examinations to obtain follow-up data on 5-year outcomes among survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 109 survivors of ARDS at 3, 6, and 12 months and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after discharge from the intensive care unit. At each visit, patients were interviewed and examined; underwent pulmonary-function tests, the 6-minute walk test, resting and exercise oximetry, chest imaging, and a quality-of-life evaluation; and reported their use of health care services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 5 years, the median 6-minute walk distance was 436 m (76% of predicted distance) and the Physical Component Score on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey was 41 (mean norm score matched for age and sex, 50). With respect to this score, younger patients had a greater rate of recovery than older patients, but neither group returned to normal predicted levels of physical function at 5 years. Pulmonary function was normal to near-normal. A constellation of other physical and psychological problems developed or persisted in patients and family caregivers for up to 5 years. Patients with more coexisting illnesses incurred greater 5-year costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise limitation, physical and psychological sequelae, decreased physical quality of life, and increased costs and use of health care services are important legacies of severe lung injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. margaret.herridge@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Margaret S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Herridge
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tansey
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matté
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diaz-Granados
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Cameron B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: C David
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mazer
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kudlow
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Arthur S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Slutsky
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D016138:Walking; D014937:Work