A combined biomarker model yielded an AUC of 0.883 for predicting 28-day mortality.<h4>Conclusions</h4>SP-D concentrations in BALF and plasma, along with lactate and acid-base markers, serve as valuable biochemical predictors of short-term prognosis in ARDS patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. This evidence concerns the gene SFTPD and acute respiratory distress syndrome.