Table 1 Patients’ characteristics

Age (year)

65 ± 12 (35; 89)

Male sex

73 (68%)

Body mass index (kg m⁻²)

29 ± 7 (16; 54)

SAPS II

62 ± 18 (32; 118)

Admission category

 Medical

103 (96%)

 Emergent surgery

2 (2%)

 Elective surgery

1 (1%)

 Trauma

1 (1%)

ARDS severity

 Moderate

30 (28%)

 Severe

77 (72%)

Time between ICU admission and ARDS onset

2 ± 4 (− 3; 27)

ARDS risk factors^a

 Pneumonia

79 (74%)

 Aspiration

34 (32%)

 Extra pulmonary sepsis

10 (9%)

 None

3 (3%)

Acute cor pulmonale

10 (9%)