An apparatus (10) for predicting patient respiratory stability includes a patient data memory (24) which stores patient data for a patient (12) and an analyzer (34) in communication with the memory computes a measure of patient respiratory stability. The analyzer applies one or more rules to the patient data that are based on a plurality of parameters which in combination, have been identified as being predictive of patient respiratory instability, such as mean airway pressure (MAWP), plateau pressure (PP), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 or SpO2), and heart rate (HR). Based on the application of the rules, the analyzer determines the measure of patient respiratory stability.