Sahetya SK, Mallow C, Sevransky JE, et al. - In mechanically ventilated patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as well as those with ARDS, whether higher driving pressures (ΔP) and plateau pressures (Pplat) are related to worse patient-centered results was investigated by utilizing data gathered during a prospective, observational cohort study of 6,179 critically ill participants registered in 59 ICUs across the USA. This analysis included 1,132 mechanically ventilated participants. Researchers found lower average severity of illness scores and lower hospital mortality among participants without ARDS (n = 822) vs those with ARDS (n = 310). The link of higher ΔP and Pplat with higher mortality was identified in those without ARDS. Similar links with mortality were seen in those with ARDS. Findings revealed increased mortality in relation to higher ΔP and Pplat for participants without ARDS. In all mechanically ventilated patients, ΔP may represent a viable target for lung-protective ventilation.