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4 Ways on How AI is Revolutionising Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

4 Ways on How AI is Revolutionising Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
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The world has about 300 million individuals who have asthma, and another 100 million are victims of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The treatment of both illnesses costs more than €80 billion in the United States and Europe each.

On the other hand, the direct costs consist of nearly $50.1 billion, with hospital stays forming a considerable portion of that cost.

Asthma is among the leading reasons for underperformance at workplaces.

In fact, victims miss nearly 14 million workdays per year, and this is equivalent to almost $2 billion worth of indirect asthma expenses.

Patients first recognize that they have a chronic pulmonary illness such as COPD and asthma when recurrent symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or breathing difficulty appear.

In turn, a pulmonologist would utilize a spirometer to diagnose the condition formally.

Then, the pulmonologist then manages the condition by a combination of medication and lifestyle choices.

Generally, medication is inhaled and can either be long-term control medication like long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist or quick-relief medications like salbutamol.

Since controlling lifestyle choices forms a significant part of managing and preventing chronic pulmonary illnesses, smart medical devices including smart spirometers and smart inhalers could significantly influence health results.

Here are four different ways in which artificial intelligence is changing respiratory care.

1. AI supported inhaler-based medication adherence solutions

With the delivery of respiratory drugs being achieved with inhalers that involve several steps, half of the patients do not take their daily medication as per the prescription.

Keeping track of whether the patient is following the prescribed regimen and monitoring the accuracy of the drug delivery method is crucial, especially when it comes to enhancing the usefulness of respiratory care pathways.

Respiro Sense technology from Amiko is a CE registered smart inhaler with the potential to keep track of both patient delivery technique and adherence, as well as report it to the doctor.

The smart inhaler is currently available to customers as a separate smart inhaler, or it can be incorporated as an add-on device to existing inhalers.

All Respiro Sensors have integrated AI that can provide personalized guidance to patients.

Hailie from Adherium is another solution that offers similar medication reminders and monitors inhaler usage.

2. AI supported early alert system

The Propeller spirometer and application utilizes complex analytics to assist patients in identifying trends, triggers, symptoms among other individualized insights.

Furthermore, Propeller’s Air entails an open API that utilizes machine learning from both environmental sources and Propeller devices.

3. AI supported diagnostics

Smart spirometers like NUVOair’s Air Next can deliver automatic pre and post-bronchodilator analysis as well as automated data interpretation.

Smart spirometers like Cohero Health’s mSpirometer and BreatheSmart deliver not only clinical metrics but also their interpretations.

4. AI supported lung imaging

Firms like Fluidda are utilizing artificial intelligence in combining High-resolution CT Scan images with complex Computational Fluid Dynamics tools in a bid to assist pulmonologists in visualizing both functional and structural parameters of the lungs.

They give pulmonologists comprehensive color-coded images, enabling them to deliver patient-based parameters like aerosol deposition and airway resistance characteristics.