Objectives Despite decreasing mortality rates in acute lung injury (ALI), studies of long term physical function in ALI survivors have consistently reported poorer quality of life persisting years into recovery for reasons that are not completely understood. We sought to determine if pulmonary dysfunction is independently associated with functional impairment among ALI survivors, and to determine if high resolution computed tomography could be used to predict its development. Design Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial in ALI. Setting Intensive care units at three academic medical centers. Patients Patients diagnosed with ALI who had high resolution computed tomography scans performed at 14 and/or 180 days after diagnosis. Interventions None. Measurements and main results An objective radiologic scoring system was used to quantify patterns present on chest high resolution computed tomography obtained at 14 and 180 days in patients with ALI. These scores were correlated in univariable and multivariable analyses with pulmonary function testing and quality of life survey data obtained at 180 days. Eighty-nine patients had evaluable data at day 14, and 47 at 180 days. At 180 days, increased radiologic scores for reticulation were associated with a decreased total lung capacity, forced vital capacity, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (p values all <0.002). Decrements in quality of life attributable to pulmonary dysfunction were most strongly associated with higher radiologic scores. Additionally, radiologic scores at 14 days independently predicted poorer quality of life at 180 days, accounting for age, severity of illness, pneumonia as the ALI risk factor, and length of time on mechanical ventilation. Conclusions Among survivors of ALI, increasing chest high resolution computed tomography involvement correlated with restrictive physiology and poorer health related quality of life, implicating pulmonary dysfunction as a potential contributor to activity limitation in these patients.

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