• Kristinn Sigvaldason, Katrín Thornormar, Jón Bragi Bergmann, Kristbjoern Reynisson, Helga Magnúsdóttir, Thornorsteinn Svoerfu'eth'ur Stefánsson, and Steinn Jónsson.
• Department of Intensive Care, Fossvogi, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland. krisig@landspitali.is
• Laeknabladid. 2006 Mar 1;92(3):201-7.

ObjectiveA retrospective analysis of the epidemiology and intensive care treatment of ARDS in Iceland during the 10 year period, 1988-1997 with observation of trends within the period.Material And MethodsAll ICU admissions in Iceland 1988-1997 were reviewed according to the American-European consensus conference criteria on ARDS to select patients with the diagnosis of ARDS i.e. bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, PaO(2)/FiO(2) <200 and excluding patients with signs of heart failure or a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) >18 mmHg. Data were collected on age, gender, length of stay, ventilator treatment and ventilatory modes, causes of ARDS and mortality.ResultsA total of 220 patients with severe respiratory failure were found and 155 of them were diagnosed as having ARDS or an annual incidence of 15.5 cases/year or 5.9 cases/100.000/year. If reference population >15 years of age is used for calculation the incidence is 7.8 cases/100.000/year. Hospital mortality was 40%, mean length of ICU stay was 21 days, mean hospital length of stay 39 days. The incidence of ARDS increased during the period with a tendency to lower mortality rates. Mortality was significantly lower when pressure controlled ventilation was used, compared to volume controlled ventilation.ConclusionThe incidence of ARDS in a well defined population of Iceland is lower than recent studies in USA and Europe have shown or 5.9 cases/100.00/year but is increasing. The mortality is 40% and shows a slight downward trend, which may be due to the use of lung protective ventilation.

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