What Doctors Don't Tell YouSurvivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may breathe easier after being in hospital, but a Canadian study shows that persistent muscle wasting and weakness are common complaints after being discharged.
Overall, survivors experienced steady improvements in quality of life, and about half were able to return to work within the year. But, at the same time, a six-minute walking test showed that patients performed at 66 per cent of the exercise capacity of same-age healthy adults (N Engl J Med, 2003; 348: 683-93, 745-7).
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Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
