Prior to COVID-19, a large international cohort study estimated that acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) accounts for 10% of all admissions to the ICU and almost a quarter of all ventilated patients (JAMA 2016;315:788-800). In addition to considerable mortality, which is as high as 45% in severe disease (JAMA 2016;315:788-800), ARDS is also associated with significant morbidity, including decreased physical quality of life and increased use of health care services, even five years after diagnosis (N Engl J Med 2011;364:1293-304).