Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Risk of an Overloaded Diagnosis

Abstract

Rosy Williams*

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) develops when fluid accumulates in your lungs' small, elastic air sacs (alveoli). Because the fluid prevents your lungs from filling with enough air, less oxygen reaches your circulation. This deprives your organs of the oxygen they require to perform properly. ARDS is a potentially fatal form of respiratory failure that affects around 200,000 individuals in the United States each year, resulting in nearly 75,000 deaths. Globally, ARDS accounts for 10% of intensive care unit admissions, resulting in about 3 million ARDS patients each year.