Background Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is characterized by the sudden onset of hypoxemia, reduced lung compliance, and bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. We investigated patient demographics and clinical predictors of outcomes in adult patients with ARDS.

Methods We conducted a retrospective multi-center intensive care unit database study using the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD). The Analysis included 304 patients with ARDS who met all inclusion criteria, including key demographic variables. We Assessed associations between these variables and outcomes, including mortality and length of stay (LoS).

Results For each year of increased age, odds of mortality decreased by 4.7% (OR = 0.953, p < 0.001). Higher temperatures were associated with reduced mortality (OR=0.470, p=0.003). Gender (p = 0.596) and BMI (p = 0.964) were not significant predictors of mortality. A multiple linear regression model for predicting ICU length of stay was statistically significant at explaining the variance compared to the null model. High temperatures (β = 0.981, p = 0.015) and low temperatures (β = -1.038, p = 0.006) were significant predictors of LoS, while gender and BMI were not. There was significant association between ethnicity and hospital discharge status (χ2(5) = 13.123, p = 0.022), which suggests disparities in outcomes across ethnic groups.

Conclusion Our study suggests that increasing age and higher temperatures may serve as protective factors, contrary to the popular belief of age-increasing fragility. Analysis also found that gender and BMI do not affect patient LoS nor mortality. These findings suggest clinicians should consider a patient’s age and core body temperature when assessing risk of mortality and prognosis, placing less emphasis on BMI and gender.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The study used ONLY openly available human data that were originally located within the eICU collaborative research database. The data analyzed in this study was obtained from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD), the following licenses/restrictions apply: To access the files, you must be a credentialed user, complete the required training (CITI Data or Specimens Only Research) and sign the user agreement for the project. Requests to access these datasets should be directed to PhysioNet, https://doi.org/10.13026/C2WM1R.

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The data analyzed in this study was obtained from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD), the following licenses/restrictions apply: To access the files, you must be a credentialed user, complete the required training (CITI Data or Specimens Only Research) and sign the user agreement for the project. Requests to access these datasets should be directed to PhysioNet, https://doi.org/10.13026/C2WM1R.