进展为急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者的病死率为30%~50%,死因主要是多器官功能衰竭而不是单纯的呼吸衰竭。[72]Montgomery AB, Stager MA, Carrico CJ, et al. Causes of mortality in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985;132:485-489.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4037521?tool=bestpractice.com2000年急性呼吸窘迫综合征协作试验显示小潮气量通气使患者住院死亡率从40%减少到31%。[34]The 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;342:1301-1308.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200005043421801#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10793162?tool=bestpractice.com年轻也可能增加生存的机会。[73]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;136:25-36.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11777361?tool=bestpractice.com从疾病中生存下来的患者通常会残留肺功能下降,尽管可能并不总是引起症状。[74]Neff TA, Stocker R, Frey HR. Long-term assessment of lung function in survivors of severe ARDS. Chest. 2003;123:845-853.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12628887?tool=bestpractice.com[75]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;167:690-694.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12493646?tool=bestpractice.com急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者存活后1年常见肌肉无力、神经病变、关节疾病和慢性疼痛。[76]Herridge MS, Cheung AM, Tansey CM, et al. One-year outcomes in the survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2003;348:683-693.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa022450#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12594312?tool=bestpractice.com