Risk factorsshow all

Strong

cigarette smoking

Smoking continues to be a major risk factor for

respiratory disease and respiratory failure
resulting in premature death. [8] Direct or
secondary exposure to cigarette smoke has
strong associations with pulmonary disease and
secondary risk for respiratory failure.

young age

Respiratory failure can occur at any age, but is

most common in young people and older adults.

Children of younger age and older people are

prone to infections affecting the respiratory
system, which predisposes them to respiratory
failure.

elderly age

Respiratory failure can occur at any age, but is

most common in young people and older adults.
 Children of younger age and older people are
prone to infections affecting the respiratory
system, which predisposes them to respiratory
failure.

Older patients often have decreased pulmonary

capacity and can develop chronic pulmonary
conditions that increase the risk for respiratory
failure.

Older people are also particularly at risk for

accidental drug-induced respiratory depression
and failure.

pulmonary infection

Acute respiratory failure is commonly associated

with pulmonary infections, including influenza and
pneumonia. Pneumonia can result in acute
hypoxaemic respiratory failure by infiltration of
alveoli. Similarly, viral respiratory infections can
cause alveolar dysfunction. Infections of the
upper airways can lead to obstruction of air flow
and secondary respiratory failure.

chronic lung disease

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic
fibrosis, and asthma are examples of chronic lung
disease and are major risk factors for respiratory
failure, as they increase susceptibility to
pulmonary infection and lower airway obstruction.
Patients with poorly controlled or highly reactive
asthma are at risk of respiratory failure. Asthma
complicated by acute viral/bacterial respiratory
infections has a higher risk of progressing to
respiratory failure. Patients with chronic lung
disease are at risk of respiratory failure. Often
stable chronic lung disease will be made acutely
worse from respiratory infection or cardiac failure.
Pulmonary embolism may occur with respiratory
failure when chronic pulmonary disease exists.

upper airway obstruction

lower airway obstruction

Asthma affects lower airways and is a common

cause for acute respiratory failure. Inflammation
and secretion obstruction of intermediate and
small airways inhibit pulmonary air exchange and
 can lead to hyperinflation of the chest, leading to
further inefficient ventilation. Cystic fibrosis and
bronchial inflammation and infection are also
forms of lower airway obstruction.

alveolar abnormalities

The surface area available for gas exchange is

reduced when there is destruction or infiltration of
alveoli: for example, with emphysema,
pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, pulmonary
haemorrhage, Goodpasture's syndrome,
Wegener's granulomatosis, and trauma.

perfusion abnormalities

Conditions such as hypovolaemia, shock, and

severe anaemia may lead to poor perfusion of the
brain, heart, and lungs and can result in
respiratory failure.

cardiac failure

Chronic and acute cardiac failure with secondary

pulmonary oedema or low flow states can cause
respiratory failure secondary to alveolar
dysfunction.
peripheral nerve abnormalities

Neurological conditions such as Guillain-Barre

syndrome and myasthenia gravis can inhibit
respiratory muscle function and cause respiratory
failure.

muscle system abnormalities

Conditions such as muscular dystrophy can

inhibit respiratory muscle function and cause
respiratory failure.

opiate and sedative medicines

Toxicity and overdose by these types of medicine

may decrease respiratory drive and can result in
respiratory failure.

toxic fumes and gases

The inhalation of substances such as chlorine,

smoke, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide
can cause damage to the upper airway, lower
airway, or alveoli.

traumatic spinal injury

 Spinal injury can result in loss of peripheral nerve
function and lack of ability to ventilate due to
inadequate respiratory muscle function.

traumatic thoracic injury

Injuries including rib fractures, penetrating lung

injuries, penetrating pulmonary vasculature
injuries, diaphragmatic injury, and pulmonary
contusion may result in a number of
abnormalities that can lead to respiratory failure.

CNS disorders

Infiltrating and mass cancers of the CNS, head

injury, direct brain injury, infections, primary CNS
disorders, and cerebrovascular accident may
result in loss of respiratory drive, causing
respiratory failure.

acute vascular occlusion

Pulmonary artery embolisation may lead to

insufficient blood flow to functioning alveoli,
causing ventilation-perfusion mismatch.

pneumothorax
 Typically causes respiratory failure in the
presence of underlying pulmonary dysfunction.
Insufficient lung reserve can lead to respiratory
failure. Bilateral pneumothorax can cause
catastrophic respiratory failure and rapid cardiac
arrest.

hypercoagulable states

Previous pulmonary embolism, deep venous

thrombosis, and/or family or known individual
history of hypercoagulable states (e.g., inherited
protein deficiencies, antiphospholipid antibody
syndrome, SLE) increase the risk of acute
pulmonary embolism, which can lead to
respiratory failure.
Weak

pulmonary effusion

Effusions due to infection, malignancy, trauma,

cardiac failure, and collagen vascular disease
may compress pulmonary tissues and cause
respiratory failure.