2023-09-20 09:00:24
New Breath Analyzer and Home Monitoring to Prevent Complications in COPD Patients
The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) has received over €600,000 in subsidies from the European Union (EU) for the development of a new breath analyzer and a clinical workflow for real-time home monitoring of COPD patients. The EU partnership, coordinated by the LUMC, will receive a total of four million euros to further develop this innovative device.
COPD patients who experience a lung attack often suffer from worsened symptoms due to sudden narrowing of the airways. In severe cases, these attacks can lead to complications such as pneumonia or lung damage. However, with the new breath analyzer, these complications can be prevented.
The breath analyzer will be able to detect lung attacks at an early stage through a breath test, allowing doctors and practitioners to intervene before the patient develops symptoms. This proactive analysis will enable the use of certain medications earlier to prevent or reduce the severity and duration of a lung attack.
“Pulmonary attacks are often diagnosed based on symptoms, which often leads to late diagnosis. Early recognition of lung attacks with the breath analysis device means that medications can be used earlier to prevent or minimize the impact of a lung attack,” explains Jiska Aardoom, one of the senior researchers involved in the project.
In addition to further development of the breath analyzer, the LUMC is also conducting research on the needs and practical use of the device. The National eHealth Living Lab (NeLL) researchers are identifying the wishes and needs of patients and engaging in discussions with healthcare providers and policy makers to design a new clinical workflow. The goal is to enable safe and effective home monitoring of patient health and improve COPD management.
Once the first phase is completed, NeLL researchers will hold co-creation sessions with user groups and consortium partners. This second phase aims to develop strategies that meet the needs of users when using breath analysis technology for home monitoring.
The project will conclude with a proof-of-concept study in collaboration with the British King’s College. This study will assess the effectiveness of the developed strategy and the new workflow. It will also determine if a safe and reliable approach for home monitoring of COPD patients can be established.
“If successful, this project could lead to transformative changes in COPD management, shifting from a reactive healthcare system based on symptom-based diagnosis to a proactive and preventative approach through home monitoring,” concludes Aardoom.
The development of the new breath analyzer and the associated home monitoring system is expected to significantly improve the management of COPD and prevent complications in patients.]
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