Among ARDS cases, significant predictors of mortality were: age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04, p<0.0001]; BMI (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.79–1.01, p = 0.075); cirrhosis (HR 2.40, 95% CI 1.54–3.72, p<0.0001); APACHE III (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.02–1.03, p<0.0001); and trauma (HR 0.21, 95% CI 0.067–0.67, p<0.0078). This evidence concerns the gene BTBD8 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.