Exercise limitation, physical and psychological sequelae, decreased physical quality of life, and increased costs and use of health care services are important legacies of severe lung injury.

At 5 years, the median 6-minute walk distance was 436 m (76% of predicted distance) and the Physical Component Score on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey was 41 (mean norm score matched for age and sex, 50).

With respect to this score, younger patients had a greater rate of recovery than older patients, but neither group returned to normal predicted levels of physical function at 5 years.

Pulmonary function was normal to near-normal.

A constellation of other physical and psychological problems developed or persisted in patients and family caregivers for up to 5 years.

Patients with more coexisting illnesses incurred greater 5-year costs.

109 survivors of ARDS at 3, 6, and 12 months and at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after discharge from ICU were evaluated.

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