ALB and acute respiratory distress syndrome: The univariate analysis revealed a significant difference between the improved and exacerbated groups in age (34 vs. 62 years; P=0.032), WBC (median: 4,550 vs. 7,300/μl, P=0.027), NLR (median: 2.2 vs. 7.2, P=0.012), albumin level (median: 4.4 vs. 3.7 mg/dl, P=0.004), ALI (47.6 vs. 13.2; P=0.011), frequency of chest radiograph abnormality (24.7 vs. 83.3%; P<0.001), CCTS (1 vs. 9, P<0.001), Liang score (49.1 vs. 110.6; P<0.001), and severity at admission (rate of severe case: 5.6 vs. 85.7%; P<0.001) (Table I).