Mechanical ventilation and acute respiratory distress syndrome in older patients.

As the population of the United States ages, an increasing number of elderly adults will be cared for in intensive care units. An understanding of how aging affects the respiratory system is important for patient care and ongoing research. The incidence rates of acute respiratory failure and of acute respiratory distress syndrome increase dramatically with age, and therefore understanding the relationship between age and ARDS is important. This article focuses on the age-specific changes in respiratory function. We present a discussion of the management of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome with a focus on the role of mechanical ventilation. We conclude with what is known about age and its impact on mortality and functional outcomes after mechanical ventilation.