Body mass index, ventilator parameters, and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome: re-examining the obesity paradox.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity is widely associated with numerous chronic conditions; however, critically ill patients sometimes exhibit the so-called "obesity paradox", showing similar or lower mortality compared to normal-weight individuals. In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the impact of obesity on outcomes remains controversial, particularly regarding ventilator parameters such as positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and driving pressure. We examined whether an obesity paradox exists in ARDS and assessed whether mechanical ventilation (MV) settings differ across body mass index (BMI) categories.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, 595 adult patients admitted from March 2018 to February 2021 were analyzed. Patients were stratified into four BMI categories (underwe

SUBMITTER: Kim TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12688598 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature