➤ How does pneumonia progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in older adults?
Severe lung infection provokes widespread inflammation that damages the alveolar-capillary membrane, increasing permeability and causing noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Gas exchange fails, producing refractory hypoxemia and diffuse bilateral infiltrates on imaging. Frailty and comorbidities accelerate progression to ARDS in elderly patients.
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