Nearly half of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors reported bodily pain at 6- and 12-month follow-up; one-third reported pain at both time points. Pre-ARDS unemployment, smoking history, and in-ICU opioid use may identify patients who report greater pain during recovery.

Given its frequent co-occurrence, clinicians should manage both physical and neuropsychological issues when pain is reported.

Pain prevalence (SF-36 BP ≤40) was 45% and 42% at 6 and 12 months, respectively.

Among 706 patients with both 6- and 12-month data, 34% reported pain at both timepoints.

Pre-ARDS employment was associated with less pain at 6-months and 12-months; smoking history was associated with greater pain.

We collected self-reported pain using the Short Form-36 Bodily Pain scale, normalized for sex and age, along with physical and mental health measures in a multi-center, prospective cohort of 826 ARDS survivors at 6- and 12-month follow-up.

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