text: Long term impact of COVID 19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome To determine the health status exercise capacity and health related quality of life HRQoL of COVID 19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS survivors 8 months after diagnosis All eligible patients were interviewed and underwent a physical examination chest X ray and 6 min walk test 6MWT Scales to evaluate post traumatic stress disorder depression anxiety and HRQoL were applied Of 1295 patients 365 suffered ARDS and 166 survived to hospital discharge Five died after discharge and 48 were lost to follow up Of the 113 remaining patients 81 had persistent symptoms More than 50 of patients completed less than 80 of the theoretical distance on the 6MWT 50 had an abnormal X ray and 93 of patients developed psychiatric disorders Mean SF 36 scores were worse than in the general population After multivariate regression analysis female sex non Caucasian race and Charlson index 2 were independent risk factors for a worse mental health component summary score on the SF 36 and age was associated with a better prognosis Female sex and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independently associated with a worse physical component summary score COVID 19 associated ARDS survivors have long term consequences in health status exercise capacity and HRQoL Strategies addressed to prevent these sequelae are needed 