BACKGROUND:Dyspnea is a distressing symptom experienced by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The dyspnea-12 (D-12) questionnaire comprises of 12 items and assesses the quality of this symptom, its severity and the emotional response. The original (English) version of the D-12 is reliable and valid for the measurement of dyspnea in pulmonary diseases.AIM:To translate the D-12 into Arabic and determine whether this version is reliable and valid in Saudi nationals with COPD.METHODS:The D-12 was translated into Arabic version and reviewed by an expert panel before being back-translated into English. The Arabic version was administered to five patients with COPD to test whether it was easily understood after which a final Arabic version was produced. Thereafter, 40 patients with COPD (aged 63 ΁ 9 years; 33 [82.5%] males; forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) 47 ΁ 16% predicted) completed the D-12, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ). Lung function and 6-minute walk distance were also measured. The D-12 was re-administered two weeks later.RESULTS:The Arabic version of the D-12 demonstrated good reliability over the two administration (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.94, P = 0.01). Strong associations were demonstrated between the (1) total score for the D-12 and the CAT, (2) quality sub-score of the D-12 and the CAT and (3) emotional response sub-score of the D-12 and emotional function domain of the CRDQ (r ≥ 0.6, all P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The Arabic version of the D-12 is a reliable and valid instrument in Saudi nationals with COPD.

Background Nomophobia has been highly prevalent among health discipline students. However, there is no available data on the prevalence of nomophobia among respiratory therapy (RT) students in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey using the nomophobia questionnaire (NMP-Q) was conducted and distributed using a convenience sample of RT students through an online platform (Survey Monkey) between September and November 2022. Results Overall, 1428 RT students, with males accounting for 773 (54%), responded to the online survey. The prevalence of nomophobia among RT students was 97.3% (1390). The mean (±SD) of the total NMP-Q items scores was 62 (±22), indicating a moderate level of nomophobia among the RT students. Female RT students had significantly higher nomophobia scores than male RT students (63 (47–80) vs 59 (43–75); p <0.001)). Single RT students had significantly higher nomophobia scores than married RT students (62 (46–78) vs 46 (37–64); p <0.001)). RT students who were living outside the family home had significantly higher nomophobia scores than RT students who were living with their family (66 (54–78) vs 60 (44–77); p = 0.001)). RT students with a GPA of 4.50 to 5.00 had the highest nomophobia score (63 (46–79); p = 0.005)). RT students who were in their third year had the highest nomophobia score (66 (48–80); p <0.001)). RT students who reported no academic warnings had the highest nomophobia score (63 (48–80); p <0.001)). RT students who spent ≥ five hours studying per week had the highest nomophobia score (64 (51–80); p <0.001)). Conclusion Nomophobia is common among RT students, with the majority experiencing a moderate level. Being female, single, living outside the family home, and having a higher academic performance were risk factors associated with higher nomophobia levels.

ObjectivesTo compare walking-based activity and sedentary behavior between males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy controls and to examine the association between dyspnea with time spent in walking-based activity and sedentary behavior in males with COPD.MethodsThis cross-sectional study of 30 males with COPD (age 62.0±5.0 years; forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1] 46±15% predicted) and 29 healthy controls (age 63.0±4.3 years; FEV1 91±5% predicted) was conducted at the outpatient pulmonary clinics at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between February 2013 and March 2014. Walking-based activity and sedentary behavior were evaluated using an activity monitor.ResultsParticipants with COPD spent less time engaged in walking-based activity (22±8% versus 37±7% of waking hours; p<0.001) and more time engaged in sedentary behavior (78±8% versus 63±6% of waking hours; p<0.001) than healthy controls. In males with COPD, moderate to strong associations were found between the scores of the quality and emotional response components of the Dyspnea-12 (D-12) questionnaire and time spent engaged in walking-based activity and sedentary behavior (r: ≥0.46, all p<0.01).ConclusionMales with COPD were less active and more sedentary than healthy controls. The D-12 components were associated with walking-based activity and sedentary behavior in males with COPD.

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that was first reported in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of 500 first COVID-19 in the Najran region, Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: A multi-center retrospective study design was employed to study the first 500 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Najran province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Data were collected from 1 March 2020 until 1 July 2020 and provided by the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) department from the hospitals. Included cases were confirmed using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Demographic, vital signs, symptoms, incubation period, travel or exposure history medical history, and comorbidities were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between potential risk factors associated with symptoms occurrence of COVID-19. Results: The median age of 500 COVID-19 patients was 31 years; 333 (66.6%) males. A total of 34 (6.8%) were Healthcare Workers (HCWs). Out of the 500 patients, 180 (36%) had at least one comorbid disease. The most common symptoms on admission were fever 281 (56.2%), cough 266 (53.2%), shortness of breath 166 (33.2%), and malaise 113 (22.6%). Most of the patients presented with mild disease severity 310 (62%).