Which condition is a risk factor for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?

Septic shock is a significant risk factor for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to the systemic inflammatory response it triggers. In septic shock, widespread infection leads to the release of inflammatory mediators that can increase vascular permeability, causing fluid to leak into the alveolar spaces of the lungs. This results in impaired gas exchange, which is a hallmark of ARDS. The pathophysiological processes involved in ARDS often originate from such systemic insults, making septic shock a critical condition that can precipitate this severe lung injury.

While other respiratory conditions may have their own complications, they don't directly lead to ARDS in the same way. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and heart failure may contribute to respiratory issues but do not create the same acute systemic inflammatory environment that is characteristic of septic shock leading to ARDS.