title: Lung function and quality of life in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
abstract: Recent studies have begun to describe the long-term outcomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors. These patients experience a number of physical, mental and psychological morbidities that significantly impair their health-related quality of life (HRQL). The trajectory of pulmonary recovery in survivors of ARDS, as it relates to lung function, structure and health-related quality of life (HRQL), is predictable and often persists years after hospital discharge. True pulmonary parenchymal morbidity is uncommon and when present, persistent restrictive disease is likely related to diaphragmatic weakness with a mild reduction in diffusion capacity (DLCO). Future research should focus on identifying patients at risk for long-term functional limitations and the design of rehabilitation interventions tailored to individual patient needs.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. elizabeth.wilcox@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: M Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: Margaret S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Herridge
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology