Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent chronic condition that has been associated with mental disorders like depression and anxiety. This study intends to provide a practical overview of the most relevant self-reported and self-rating scales that assess depression and anxiety in OSA patients. Materials and Methods: A search for articles was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar using a combination of words for obstructive sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, and scales. The tools were ordered by type (screening and rating) and arranged chronologically according to the year of publication. Results: Three scales were identified for assessing depression, which were the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). For rating depression, two scales were discussed: the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), which has three versions (the BDI, the BDI-II, and the Fast Screen (BDI-FS)). For assessing anxiety, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale was identified. Two scales were reviewed for rating anxiety: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Each scale is accompanied by a brief description of its practicality and psychometric qualities and an analysis of its strengths and limitations. Conclusions: The findings of this review will contribute to the understanding of the importance of assessing mental health comorbidities in the context of OSA, ultimately guiding clinical practice and future research in this area.

The acute phase of COVID-19 often leaves patients with persistent pulmonary deficits. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) has been recommended as an essential part of post-acute COVID-19 management. In light of the global pandemic, telerehabilitation has been increasingly employed to deliver PR. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine-driven PR in patients recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19, assessing variations in telerehabilitation practices and identifying the degree of change in mental health, physical health, quality of life, and lung function. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus up until April 2023. Studies focusing on telerehabilitation in PR for post-acute COVID-19 patients with outcomes including pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life were included after careful assessment of this study’s protocol. The selection process involved careful scrutiny of abstracts and full texts, and the quality assessment was performed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) tool. Seven studies, published between 2021 and 2022, involving a total of 412 patients, were included. The evaluated telerehabilitation programs stretched between 4 and 10 weeks, involving a mobile app or video connection with the patient, integrating a mix of aerobic and resistance training, breathing exercises, functional activities, and muscle strengthening. Findings revealed that telemedicine-driven PR significantly improved physical health, measured by the step test score (73 vs. 71), 6MWD (30.2 vs. 17.1) and BPAQ, mental health evaluated by SF-12 (6.15 vs. 4.17) and PHQ-4, quality of life measured by the SF-12 (7.81 vs. 3.84), SGRQ (31.5 vs. 16.9), and CAT scores, and some parameters of pulmonary function in post-acute COVID-19 patients (mMRC, STST, and MVV). This review substantiates the potential of telemedicine-driven PR to improve various health outcomes in post-acute COVID-19 patients. The findings underscore the importance of integrating telerehabilitation into the management of post-acute COVID-19 and call for further exploration of its long-term effects, cost-effectiveness, and best practices.

This review addresses the ongoing challenges in asthma management, particularly focusing on patient adherence to inhaler therapy. Asthma, a chronic condition characterized by variable respiratory symptoms and airflow obstruction, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if not properly managed. Despite advances in inhaler technology and therapeutic options, non-adherence remains a significant barrier to optimal asthma control. This review explores both intentional and unintentional non-adherence, influenced by factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and the complexity of inhaler devices. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) provides guidelines aimed at improving adherence through targeted interventions, and this review examines their application. Common inhaler technique errors, including incorrect inhalation speed, not exhaling before inhaling, and failure to hold breath post-inhalation, are identified as major contributors to inadequate asthma control. Furthermore, the review explores the emerging role of electronic monitoring devices (EMDs), such as CapMedic and DigiHaler, which offer real-time feedback to enhance inhaler technique and adherence. The role of biomarkers in assessing adherence and the potential of personalized treatment strategies, including biologic therapies, are also discussed. Overall, addressing adherence requires a comprehensive approach that integrates patient education, tailored interventions, and technological innovations to achieve better clinical outcomes in asthma management.

Asthma is a prevalent chronic disease, contributing significantly to the global burden of disease and economic costs. Despite advances in treatment, inadequate disease management and reliance on reliever medications lead to preventable deaths. Telemedicine, defined as the use of information and communication technology to improve healthcare access, has gained global attention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of home monitoring systems in managing severe asthma. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, focusing on studies from 2014 to 2024. Fourteen studies involving 9093 patients were analyzed. The results indicate that telemedicine, through tools such as mobile applications and portable spirometers, positively impacts asthma control, self-management, and quality of life. Home spirometry, in particular, shows strong agreement with clinic spirometry, offering a feasible alternative for continuous monitoring. Digital coaching and machine learning-based telemedicine applications also demonstrate significant potential in improving asthma outcomes. However, challenges such as technology accessibility, data privacy, and the need for standardized protocols remain. This review highlights the promise of telemedicine in asthma management and calls for further research to optimize its implementation and address existing barriers.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with a major impact on respiratory function, but also with possible underestimated effects on cognitive function. Although interest in cognitive impairment in chronic respiratory diseases, such as COPD, has increased, data on IPF remain limited and heterogeneous. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on cognitive impairment in IPF, identify the most affected domains, and evaluate the certainty of evidence using standardized methodological tools. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020, with a registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD420251041866). Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched for studies from 2014 to 2025. Methodological quality and certainty of evidence were appraised with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and GRADE frameworks. Results: Four studies met the inclusion criteria (two cross-sectional, one descriptive, one case–control). Across investigations, working and verbal memory emerged as the most consistently impaired domains, followed by processing speed and executive function, whereas visuospatial and language abilities were less frequently affected. Cognitive impairment was present even in mild IPF and became more pronounced with lower DLCO, shorter 6 min walk distance, greater desaturation, and obstructive sleep apnea. Certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate due to small samples and heterogeneous testing. Conclusions: Cognitive dysfunction, particularly in memory, attention, and executive domains, is a frequent but under-recognized feature of IPF. Routine screening with brief, validated tools such as the MoCA may facilitate early detection and guide individualized rehabilitation.

Background/Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic genetic disease affecting multiple body systems and having a significant impact on mental health and sleep. Patients with CF frequently suffer from anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, but non-pharmacological strategies are understudied. Although progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) has recognized benefits, its impact on CF remains insufficiently explored. The study aimed to analyze the effect of integrating PMR into a standard pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on mental health, sleep quality, and quality of life in adults with CF. Methods: A total of 22 adult patients with CF were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (PR + PMR) or the control group (PR only). Assessments were performed at baseline, after 21 days of intervention, and at the 48-day follow-up. Outcome measures included the CFQ-R for quality of life, the HADS for mental health, and the PSQI for sleep. Results: Compared to the control group, participants who practiced PMR experienced significant reductions in anxiety (p = 0.05) and depression (p = 0.02) at the final assessment. A significant improvement in sleep quality was also observed (p < 0.01). No relevant differences were found in pulmonary function or performance on the six-minute walk test. Conclusions: Integrating PMR into pulmonary rehabilitation programs may be an effective strategy for improving mental health and sleep in patients with CF. Due to its accessibility and ease of implementation, PMR could be adopted as a complementary method in the holistic care of these patients.