Resumo Objetivo: Definir os critérios diagnósticos da COVID-19 na tomografia computadorizada (TC), estudar a concordância entre a TC e o PCR e determinar a associação da extensão do envolvimento parenquimatoso e ventilação mecânica com os achados tomográficos e características clínicas da amostra. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo de 155 pacientes com COVID-19 atendidos entre março e maio de 2020. Tentamos determinar se os achados da TC se correlacionavam com a idade e variáveis clínicas, bem como se a necessidade de ventilação mecânica se correlacionava com a extensão do envolvimento pulmonar. Resultados: A faixa etária dos pacientes com COVID-19 (54,8 anos) foi maior do que a dos pacientes sem a doença (45,5 anos) (p = 0,031). Opacidades em vidro fosco foram as alterações mais frequentes (88,6%; p = 0,0001). Bandas parenquimatosas (p = 0,013), ectasia brônquica (p = 0,046) e consolidações peribroncovasculares (p = 0,012) foram mais frequentes nos pacientes que necessitaram de ventilação mecânica. Pacientes com comorbidades apresentaram envolvimento parenquimatoso mais extenso (p = 0,023). A TC apresentou sensibilidade de 84,3%, especificidade de 36,7% e acurácia de 73,5% (p = 0,012). Conclusão: Os padrões de TC são úteis para o diagnóstico de COVID-19 e avaliação dos critérios de gravidade da doença. Pacientes com comorbidades estão associados a condições clínicas mais graves.

Abstract Objective: To define diagnostic criteria for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on computed tomography (CT); to study the correlation between CT and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; and to determine whether the extent of parenchymal involvement and the need for mechanical ventilation are associated with the CT findings and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 155 patients with COVID-19 treated between March and May 2020. We attempted to determine whether the CT findings correlated with age and clinical variables, as well as whether the need for mechanical ventilation correlated with the extent of the pulmonary involvement. Results: On average, the patients with COVID-19 were older than were those without (mean age, 54.8 years vs. 45.5 years; p = 0.031). The most common CT finding (seen in 88.6%) was ground-glass opacity, which correlated significantly with a diagnosis of COVID-19 (p = 0.0001). The CT findings that correlated most strongly with the need for mechanical ventilation were parenchymal bands (p = 0.013), bronchial ectasia (p = 0.046), and peribronchovascular consolidations (p = 0.012). The presence of one or more comorbidities correlated significantly with more extensive parenchymal involvement (p = 0.023). For the diagnosis of COVID-19, CT had a sensitivity of 84.3%, a specificity of 36.7%, and an accuracy of 73.5% (p = 0.012 vs. PCR). Conclusion: The patterns of CT findings are useful for the diagnosis of COVID-19 and the evaluation of disease severity criteria. The presence of any comorbidity is associated with greater severity of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma may cause systemic repercussions due to its severity and the effects of treatment. Our objective was to compare posture, balance, functional capacity, and quality of life (QOL) according to the severity of disease, as assessed by pulmonary function levels. METHOD: This cross-sectional study evaluated fifty individuals with asthma. We compared two groups of adult individuals who were divided according to the median of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) as follows: group A  =  FEV1>74% predicted; group B  =  FEV1<74% predicted. All patients underwent the following tests: spirometry, whole-body plethysmography, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco), respiratory muscle strength, posture assessment, stabilometry, six-minute walking distance (6MWD), and QOL. RESULTS: All pulmonary function variables exhibited statistically significant differences between the two groups, except for the DLco. The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and 6MWD were lower in group B. The maximal mediolateral velocity and the mediolateral displacement were significantly different, while the postural changes and QOL were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In adult individuals with asthma, the pulmonary function is associated with balance control in the mediolateral direction but does not influence the postural changes or QOL.

INTRODUCTION: Detection of smoking effects is of utmost importance in the prevention of cigarette-induced chronic airway obstruction. The forced oscillation technique offers a simple and detailed approach to investigate the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. However, there have been no data concerning the use of the forced oscillation technique to evaluate respiratory mechanics in groups with different degrees of tobacco consumption. OBJECTIVES: (1) to evaluate the ability of the forced oscillation technique to detect smoking-induced respiratory alterations, with special emphasis on early alterations; and (2) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the forced oscillation technique and spirometric parameters. METHODS: One hundred and seventy subjects were divided into five groups according to the number of pack-years smoked: four groups of smokers classified as <20, 20-39, 40-59, and >60 pack-years and a control group. The four groups of smokers were compared with the control group using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The early adverse effects of smoking in the group with <20 pack-years were adequately detected by forced oscillation technique parameters. In this group, the comparisons of the ROC curves showed significantly better diagnostic accuracy (p<0.01) for forced oscillation technique parameters. On the other hand, in groups of 20-39, 40-59, and >60 pack-years, the diagnostic performance of the forced oscillation technique was similar to that observed with spirometry. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that forced oscillation technique parameters were able to detect early smoking-induced respiratory involvement when pathologic changes are still potentially reversible. These findings support the use of the forced oscillation technique as a versatile clinical diagnostic tool in helping with chronic obstructive lung disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.