Table 2

Characteristics at diagnosis of ALI/ARDS

Characteristic
ALI
ARDS
P

Number
20
33

Age, years; median (interquartile range)
70.5 (42–81.8)
60.5 (46.5–79.3)
0.436
Female sex, n (percentage)
13 (65.0)
21 (63.6)
1
McCabe score



     Non-fatal
14 (70.0)
23 (69.7)

     Ultimately fatal
5 (25.0)
9 (27.3)
0.927
     Fatal
1 (5.0)
1 (3.0)

Medical (versus surgical) admission
13 (65.0)
20 (60.6)
0.369
Antecedent clinical risk conditions, n (percentage)



     Sepsis
16 (80.0)
30 (90.9)
0.405
     Pneumonia
10 (50.0)
15 (45.5)
0.783
     Aspiration
1 (5.0)
1 (3.0)
1
     Trauma
0
0
1
     Transfusions
2 (10.0)
1 (3.0)
0.549
     Pancreatitis
0
1 (3.0)
1
     Pulmonary contusion
0
0
1
     Shock
6 (30.0)
15 (45.5)
0.386
     Other
1 (5.0)
0
0.377
On day of clinical risk development, median (IQR) or n (percentage)



     SAPS II
37.5 (24.0–47.8)
37 (28.0–41.5)
0.604
     Mean arterial pressure (mmHg)
86 (71–103)
73 (65–85)
0.076
     Multiple organ dysfunction score
2 (1–3.75)
6 (4–7)
0.008
     Location, percentage on ward versus ICU
12 (60)
5 (15.2)
0.002
     PaO2/FiO2, mmHg
229 (210–264)
98 (78.5–146)
<0.001
     Receiving mechanical ventilation, percentage
7 (35)
22 (66.7)
0.045
     Tidal volume (ml)
600 (500–600)
550 (500–600)
0.615
Positive end-expiratory pressure, cmH2O
5 (5–8)
8 (5–10.5)
0.086
Ventilator mode, percentage volume-cycled ventilation
7 (100)
20 (91)
1
Days from clinical insult to ALI/ARDS diagnosis
0 (0–3)
2 (0–4)
0.14

ICU, intensive care unit; ALI, acute lung injury (PaO2/FiO2 200 to 300 mmHg); ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; SAPS, simplified acute physiology score; PaO2, partial pressure of arterial oxygen; FiO2, fractional concentration of inspired oxygen.

Ferguson et al. Critical Care 2007 11:R96   doi:10.1186/cc6113