Background and objective COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that is highly contagious and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Symptoms vary from mild to severe, where most of the patients suffer from high fever, severe headaches, dry cough, and exhaustion, while the less common symptoms are diarrhea, loss of taste, sore throat, and loss of smell. Following recovery from COVID-19, some patients displayed a restricted pattern in the function of their lungs. As a result, documenting the effects of COVID-19 after infection is essential since it provides a better understanding of the long-term consequences of COVID-19. Hence, the objective of the present study was to assess pulmonary functions in post-convalescent COVID-19 patients. Methodology A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among students and staff members of Gulf Medical University for a duration of one year from 2021 to 2022. Through a convenient sampling method, a total of 100 participants were recruited for the present study, in which pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed using a spirometer, and O2 levels were measured using a pulse oximeter. Additionally, respiratory rate and pulse rate were monitored. Results The present study highlighted the comparison of PFTs in post-convalescent COVID-19 patients and concluded that smoker and convalescent COVID-19 groups showed non-significant decrease (p>0.05) in forced vital capacity (FVC) prediction, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) prediction, FEV1/FVC%, forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25-75%) prediction, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) prediction, respiratory rate, and pulse rate in comparison to the control group. In comparison to the convalescent COVID-19 group, convalescent COVID-19 smoking patients showed a significant increase in FEV1/FVC% (p=0.04). Additionally, in comparison to the convalescent COVID-19 group, a significant increase in PEFR prediction values was observed with a p-value of 0.045 and in comparison to the smoker group with a p-value of 0.006. Moreover, oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels demonstrated non-significant changes between the groups. Conclusion The study concluded that for FEV1/FVC% and PEFR prediction values among the convalescent COVID-19 smoking patient group, a significant increase was observed in comparison to the convalescent COVID-19 group. This aids healthcare professionals in amending strategies to prevent consequences resulting from post-COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is a chronic airway disorder associated with variable airflow limitations, which are triggered by different stimuli. The reversibility of airflow limitations reflects patients\' responses to the therapy with bronchodilators and improvements in airflow. This study aims to determine the treatment outcomes (improvements in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and the number of asthma exacerbations) associated with the presence of airflow reversibility.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 154 adults (>18 years) who were diagnosed with asthma and had pulmonary function testing (PFT) at a tertiary care centre in KSA between January 1st, 2014 and May 31st, 2019. Smokers and patients with comorbidities or medications that could affect PFT were excluded from the analysis. Patients were classified as having a reversible airflow limitation when they exhibited a post-bronchodilator FEV1 increase of 12% and 200 mL. Exacerbations were defined as the need to use oral corticosteroids. Chi-square tests were used for comparative analyses.
RESULTS: From our cohort, 42 patients exhibited reversibility. In contrast, 112 patients did not show any sign of reversibility. Asthmatics with baseline reversible airflow limitations experienced significant worsening of FEV1 during the follow-up period compared with those with no reversibility, showing a mean difference of 19.96 mL (p = 0.0206). There was no significant association between asthma reversibility and exacerbations (p = 0.23).
CONCLUSIONS: In our study, during the follow-up of patients with asthma, we found that the reversibility of airflow was associated with significantly worse FEV1, although this did not have a significant effect on exacerbations. Therefore, we recommend regular spirometry follow-ups, particularly for patients with significant airway reversibility.
UNASSIGNED: الربو هو اضطراب مزمن في مجرى الهواء يرتبط بحدود تدفق الهواء المتغيرة التي تسببها محفزات مختلفة. تعكس إمكانية عكس قيود تدفق الهواء استجابة المريض للعلاج بموسعات الشعب الهوائية والتحسن في تدفق الهواء. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحديد نتائج العلاج (التحسينات في حجم الزفير القسري في الثانية الأولى وعدد حالات تفاقم الربو) المرتبطة بوجود انعكاس تدفق الهواء.
UNASSIGNED: تضمنت هذه الدراسة بأثر رجعي ١٥٤ بالغا (أكبر من ١٨ عاما) مصابين بالربو وخضعوا لاختبارات وظائف الرئة في مركز رعاية من الدرجة الثالثة في المملكة العربية السعودية بين ١ يناير ٢٠١٤ و٣١ مايو ٢٠١٩. تم استبعاد المدخنين والمرضى الذين يعانون من أمراض مصاحبة أو من يستعمل أدوية قد تؤثر على اختبارات وظائف الرئة. تم تصنيف المرضى على أنهم يعانون من قيود عكسية في تدفق الهواء عندما أظهروا زيادة حجم الزفير القسري في الثانية الأولى بعد توسيع القصبات بنسبة ١٢٪ و٢٠٠ مل. كما تم تعريف التفاقم على أنه الحاجة إلى استخدام الستيرويدات القشرية عن طريق الفم.
UNASSIGNED: أظهر ٤٢ مريضا قابلية للعكس. في المقابل، لم يظهر ١١٢ مريضا أي علامة على الانعكاسية. عانى مرضى الربو الذين يعانون من قيود تدفق الهواء القابلة للانعكاس من تدهور كبير في حجم الزفير القسري في الثانية الأولى أثناء المتابعة، مقارنة مع أولئك الذين ليس لديهم قابلية للانعكاسية، وبلغ متوسط الفرق ١٩.٩٦ مل. ولم يكن هناك ارتباط اعتباري بين الانعكاسية وقابلية حدوث تفاقم للحالة.
UNASSIGNED: في دراستنا، وأثناء متابعة مرضى الربو، وجدنا أن انعكاس تدفق الهواء كان مرتبطا بتدهور كبير في حجم الزفير القسري في الثانية الأولى، ولكن بدون تأثير كبير على التفاقم، نوصي بمتابعة قياس التنفس بانتظام، خاصة للمرضى الذين يعانون من انعكاسية مجرى الهواء.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating inflammatory respiratory condition that presents with worsening breathing difficulties and it is assumed to be progressive and incurable. As an inflammatory disease, COPD is associated with recruitment of immune cells to lung tissue and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and GM-CSF. Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets have anti-inflammatory properties that could, in theory, improve COPD symptoms and progression. Herein, we report on a 54-year-old patient (C.A.) with COPD who adopted a ketogenic diet (70% calories from fat). Subsequently, C.A. experienced a reduction in inflammatory markers in association with a meaningful improvement in lung function. His inflammatory markers decreased into the normal range and his forced expiratory volume increased by 37.5% relative to its pre-ketogenic diet value. Future research should explore nutritional ketosis and ketogenic diets as possible therapeutic options for individuals with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Lung age, calculated from sex, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and height, was developed to illustrate premature changes to the lungs and could be used to motivate smoking cessation. However, this method has not been tested in association with smoking in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of lung age with smoking and other factors in Korean males.
METHODS: We reviewed the records of 1,100 healthy men who visited a health promotion center at Ewha Womans University Medical Center from January 2008 to June 2009. Lung age was calculated from FEV1 and normal predictive values of spirometry according to age in the Korean population. The difference between lung age and chronological age was evaluated in relation to smoking status, weight, body mass index, waist, muscle mass, fat mass, and exercise.
RESULTS: The age difference was significantly higher in current smokers than in non-smokers (12.47 ± 19.90 vs. 7.30 ± 19.52, P < 0.001). Additionally, the age difference was positively correlated with life time pack-year (β = 0.223; P < 0.001) and fat mass (β = 0.462; P < 0.001). Lung age increased 1 year for 4.48 pack-year increase or for 2.16% increase in fat mass.
CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant relationship between lung age and both smoking status and fat mass in healthy Korean males. Lung age may be a useful tool for motivating cessation of cigarette smoking and management of risk factors related to obesity.