The epidemiology of acute respiratory failure in hospitalized patients: a Brazilian prospective cohort study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors associated with the development of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and death in a general intensive care unit (ICU).

Materials And Methods: Adults who were hospitalized at 12 surgical and nonsurgical ICUs were prospectively followed up. Multivariable analyses were realized to determine the risk factors for ARF and point out the prognostic factors for mortality in these patients.