Thousands and thousands of Americans suffer from ARDS
each year. Many more suffer throughout the world. Until the recent
past, this devastating condition was uniformly fatal. However, since
ARDS was first described in 1967, steady progress has been made in
reducing mortality. Today, as many as 60% of ARDS victims recover to
leave the hospital. More than ever before, survivors are returning
to productive and rewarding lives. Medical doctors and scientists
still have more work to do to further improve mortality and
functional independence after recovery.
