The specific survival time of respiratory failure is related to the individual patient’s physical condition, treatment and care, and cannot be generalized. Respiratory failure can be divided into type I and type II respiratory failure according to the pathophysiological mechanism, and acute and chronic respiratory failure according to the course of the disease. If the acute respiratory failure is caused by various infectious factors, excessive CO inhalation, drowning, etc., the onset of the disease is urgent and develops more rapidly. It may soon be complicated by pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, and even sudden death if the treatment is not timely or the course of the disease is critical. However, if the cause of acute respiratory failure can be removed in time, the patient’s basic physical fitness will also improve within 1-2 months. In the case of chronic respiratory failure due to COPD, chronic bronchitis, or chronic pneumonia, survival may remain fluctuating for years or months because the patient has gradually adapted to the hypoxic and hypercapnic environment over a longer period of time. As respiratory failure is a manifestation of the end stage of many diseases, patients must pay attention to rest and must not exert themselves. Family members should do a good job of accompanying the patient and cooperate with the patient’s active treatment.