Quality of life (QoL) is essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle, especially among individuals with chronic diseases. Saudi Arabia (SA) launched a health sector transformation program as part of the nationwide Vision 2030 initiative to ensure the sustainable development of efficient healthcare services, aiming to improve health by increasing well-being and QoL. More investigation into the current status of health rehabilitation services provided to individuals with chronic diseases and future needs to optimize services and improve QoL is needed. This was narratively discussed by experts from different health rehabilitation services in SA. Comprehensive health rehabilitation services including orthopedic, occupational, cardiac, pulmonary, critical care, perioperative, hearing and speech, substance use disorders, and vocational rehabilitation services were addressed. Health rehabilitation services in SA, as in other countries, are suboptimal for individuals in health rehabilitation programs. To optimize the QoL of individuals with chronic diseases, health rehabilitation services should be tailored based on the unique requirements of each service and its serving patients. The shared need to improve health rehabilitation services includes the adoption of home-based and telehealth services, the integration of multi-governmental sectors, the empowerment and allocation of health rehabilitation specialists, public awareness campaigns, policy legislation and guideline development, and the implementation of a long-term follow-up system. This review is one of the first to address the intersection of health rehabilitation services and QoL in SA; urgent and holistic actions are paramount to address the pressing need to optimize SA’s health rehabilitation services. The experts’ recommendations in this study may be applicable to other countries’ health systems, as health rehabilitation services are not well optimized globally.

Purpose: Using a replicated crossover design, we quantified the response heterogeneity of postprandial cardiovascular disease risk marker responses to acute exercise. Methods: Twenty men (mean (SD) age, 26 (6) yr; body mass index, 23.9 (2.4) kg·m⁻²) completed four 2-d conditions (two control, two exercise) in randomized orders. On days 1 and 2, participants rested and consumed two high-fat meals over 9 h. Participants ran for 60 min (61 (7)% of peak oxygen uptake) on day 1 (6.5 to 7.5 h) of both exercise conditions. Time-averaged total area under the curve (TAUC) for triacylglycerol, glucose, and insulin were calculated from 11 venous blood samples on day 2. Arterial stiffness and blood pressure responses were calculated from measurements at baseline on day 1 and at 2.5 h on day 2. Consistency of individual differences was explored by correlating the two replicates of control-adjusted exercise responses for each outcome. Within-participant covariate-adjusted linear mixed models quantified participant-by-condition interactions and individual response SDs. Results: Acute exercise reduced mean TAUC-triacylglycerol (−0.27 mmol·L⁻¹·h; Cohen’s d = 0.29, P = 0.017) and TAUC-insulin (−25 pmol·L⁻¹·h; Cohen’s d = 0.35, P = 0.022) versus control, but led to negligible changes in TAUC-glucose and the vascular outcomes (Cohen’s d ≤ 0.36, P ≥ 0.106). Small-to-moderate, but nonsignificant, correlations were observed between the two response replicates (r = −0.42 to 0.15, P ≥ 0.066). We did not detect any individual response heterogeneity. All participant-by-condition interactions were P ≥ 0.137, and all individual response SDs were small with wide 95% confidence intervals overlapping zero. Conclusions: Large trial-to-trial within-subject variability inhibited detection of consistent interindividual variability in postprandial metabolic and vascular responses to acute exercise.

Background: Artificial intelligence is experiencing rapid growth, with continual innovation and advancements in the health care field. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the application of artificial intelligence technologies across various domains of respiratory care. Methods: We conducted a narrative review to examine the latest advancements in the use of artificial intelligence in the field of respiratory care. The search was independently conducted by respiratory care experts, each focusing on their respective scope of practice and area of interest. Results: This review illuminates the diverse applications of artificial intelligence, highlighting its use in areas associated with respiratory care. Artificial intelligence is harnessed across various areas in this field, including pulmonary diagnostics, respiratory care research, critical care or mechanical ventilation, pulmonary rehabilitation, telehealth, public health or health promotion, sleep clinics, home care, smoking or vaping behavior, and neonates and pediatrics. With its multifaceted utility, artificial intelligence can enhance the field of respiratory care, potentially leading to superior health outcomes for individuals under this extensive umbrella. Conclusions: As artificial intelligence advances, elevating academic standards in the respiratory care profession becomes imperative, allowing practitioners to contribute to research and understand artificial intelligence’s impact on respiratory care. The permanent integration of artificial intelligence into respiratory care creates the need for respiratory therapists to positively influence its progression. By participating in artificial intelligence development, respiratory therapists can augment their clinical capabilities, knowledge, and patient outcomes.

Introduction: South Asians (SAs) have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with White Europeans (WEs). Postprandial endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation (FMD%)) in SA women and SA men with central obesity has not been investigated. Research in other populations has highlighted that a 1% higher FMD% is associated with a ~13% lower risk of future CVD events. We investigated whether FMD% and lipemia, two markers for CVD risk, were higher in SAs versus WEs, whether walking improved FMD% and lipemia, and if there were ethnic differences in the response. Methods: Lean premenopausal women (study 1; 12 SA, 12 WE) and men with central obesity (study 2; 15 SA, 15 WE) completed two 2-d trials. On day 1, participants walked for 60 min at 60% of their peak oxygen uptake or rested. On day 2, participants rested and consumed two high-fat meals over 8 h. Repeated ultrasound assessments of endothelial function and venous blood samples for CVD risk markers were taken. Results: Compared with WEs, SAs had lower postprandial FMD% (study 1, −1.32%; study 2, −0.54%) and higher postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations (study 1, 0.31 mmol·L⁻¹·h⁻¹; study 2, 0.55 mmol·L⁻¹·h⁻¹). Walking improved postprandial FMD% (study 1, 1.12%; study 2, 0.94%) and resulted in no significant change or small reductions in postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations (study 1, −0.01 mmol·L⁻¹·h⁻¹; study 2, −0.25 mmol·L⁻¹·h⁻¹). Exercise-induced changes in FMD% and triacylglycerol were consistent between ethnic groups. Conclusions: Walking mitigated the adverse postprandial effect of a high-fat diet on FMD% to a similar extent in SA and WE women and men, even with no/small improvements in triacylglycerol. This study highlights the importance of exercise to clinically improve FMD% in SAs and WEs.

Background: There is overwhelming evidence of improved patient outcomes as a result of early mobilization in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, several barriers of ICU mobility remain understated with reference to clinical roles. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived barriers of early mobility of critically ill patients among ICU healthcare providers.Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, the Mobilization Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (PMABS‐ICU) was administered to ICU healthcare providers using an online survey. The study investigated barriers related to knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding ICU mobility practices. These barriers were compared among different ICU clinical roles.Results: The survey yielded a total number of 214 healthcare providers with 41% female and 59% male. Respiratory therapists reported the highest perceived barriers to ICU mobility (M 39, IQR 36, 43) % compared to physical therapists (who reported the lowest barriers), occupational therapists, nurses, and physicians (p ≤ 0.05). ICU healthcare providers’ behavior towards ICU mobility such as perceived benefits and safety is ranked as the primary barrier (M 49, IQR 42, 52) %. Professional experience did not significantly vary among all groups.Conclusion: Our findings highlight that ICU healthcare providers’ perceptions, including both potential benefits and safety concerns regarding mobility, are significant barriers to implement mobility practices. ICU mobility barriers should be tackled by providing education and training. A focused effort to include RTs and nurses could advance interdisciplinary ICU mobility practice and reduce associated barriers.

Background: Despite the advancements in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment, complications related to COPD exacerbation remain challenging. One associated factor is substance use/misuse among adults with COPD. Fewer studies, however, examined the prevalence and association between COPD and substance use and misuse. In addition, limited knowledge existed about the moderation effects of serious psychological distress and gender among adults with COPD and substance use/misuse. We aimed, therefore, to measure such prevalence, association, and moderation from nationally representative samples in the United States. Method: Data were drawn from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Weighted logistic regressions were used to measure the associations of last-month tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, and smokeless tobacco products), other licit and illicit substance use (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants), and substance misuse (pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives) among adults with COPD. Serious psychological distress and gender were tested as moderators in the association between COPD and substance use/misuse. Results: The findings revealed that adults with COPD [_Weighted N = 53,115,718) revealed greater odds of cigarettes [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.48 (95%CI = 1.80–3.42)) and smokeless tobacco (aOR = 3.65 (95%CI = 1.75–7.65)). However, they were less likely to use alcohol (aOR = 0.61 (95%CI = 0.45–0.84)). Adults with COPD who had serious psychological distress were more likely to use pipe tobacco and alcohol; however, they were less likely to use hallucinogens and inhalants. Finally, males compared to females with COPD were less likely to use smokeless tobacco. Conclusion: Adults with COPD in the United States were more likely to use tobacco products and less likely to use alcohol. In addition, serious psychological distress and gender were moderators in associations between COPD and substance use but not in substance misuse. Future studies should longitudinally assess the factors that may contribute to the initiation and progression of substance use and misuse among adults with COPD.