A mortalidade em pacientes que desenvolvem síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA) é de 30% a 50%.[4]Bellani G, Laffey JG, Pham T, et al. Epidemiology, patterns of care, and mortality for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome in intensive care units in 50 countries. JAMA. 2016 Feb 23;315(8):788-800.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2492877
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26903337?tool=bestpractice.com
[142]Máca J, Jor O, Holub M, et al. Past and present ARDS mortality rates: a systematic review. Respir Care. 2017 Jan;62(1):113-22.
http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/62/1/113.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27803355?tool=bestpractice.com
O óbito é, na maioria das vezes, decorrente de falência múltipla de órgãos, e não puramente de insuficiência respiratória.[143]Montgomery AB, Stager MA, Carrico CJ, et al. Causes of mortality in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Sep;132(3):485-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4037521?tool=bestpractice.com
A ventilação mecânica com baixo volume corrente reduziu a mortalidade intra-hospitalar de 40% para 31% no ensaio da ARDS Network de 2000.[65]Brower RG, Matthay MA, Morris A, et al; Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network. Ventilation with lower tidal volumes as compared with traditional tidal volumes for acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2000 May 4;342(18):1301-8.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJM200005043421801
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10793162?tool=bestpractice.com
Estar em faixas etárias mais jovens também pode aumentar as chances de sobrevivência.[144]Ely EW, Wheeler AP, Thompson BT, et al. Recovery rate and prognosis in older persons who develop acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Jan 1;136(1):25-36.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11777361?tool=bestpractice.com
Os pacientes que sobrevivem à doença geralmente têm decréscimos residuais na função pulmonar, embora isso nem sempre cause sintomas.[145]Neff TA, Stocker R, Frey HR. Long-term assessment of lung function in survivors of severe ARDS. Chest. 2003 Mar;123(3):845-53.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12628887?tool=bestpractice.com
[146]Orme J, Romney JS, Hopkins RO, et al. Pulmonary function and health-related quality of life in survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Mar 1;167(5):690-4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12493646?tool=bestpractice.com
Fraqueza muscular, neuropatias, distúrbios articulares e dor crônica também são comuns em sobreviventes da SDRA a 1 ano.[147]Herridge MS, Cheung AM, Tansey CM, et al; Canadian Critical Care Trials Group. One-year outcomes in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2003 Feb 20;348(8):683-93.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa022450
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12594312?tool=bestpractice.com