A Wearable and a Self-management Application for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients at Home

COPDwear V2 - A Wearable and a Self-management Application for COPD Patients at Home: a Pilot Prospective Cohort Study

Our overall research goal for this project is to create a wearable device and mobile application, appealing to patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which provides them with appropriate self-management tools and detects AECOPDs early to permit prompt treatment and prevent severe exacerbations requiring hospitalization.

Our overall research goal for this project is to create a wearable device and mobile application, appealing to patients with COPD, which provides them with appropriate self-management tools and detects Acute Exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) early to permit prompt treatment and prevent severe exacerbations requiring hospitalization. Currently, the investigators are developing a second version of this app, WearCOPDv2. This app will incorporate features identified as being desirable from our patient interviews: 1) new sensor that was requested by patients - oxygen saturation, and 2) the app will incorporate a patient-facing interface as patients requested a method to view their data as well as access to information to learn how to manage their condition better.

Research questions:

Can an app designed for patients with COPD that includes biosensor feedback improve self-management of COPD?

What is the accuracy of our sensor data (heart rate, activity, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, coughing, and other sounds of interest) in detecting early AECOPDs?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to speak English
• Moderate to very severe COPD (GOLD C and D) as defined by the GOLD guidelines
• Clinically relevant disease, as defined by a history of exacerbation in the previous 12 months
• Previous spirometry or Pulmonary Function Test results of Forced Expiration Volume/Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) <0.70 with an FEV1 below 80% predicted
• Patient resides at home (not long term care residence or another hospital)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pulmonary condition other than COPD as the main respiratory disease such as bronchiectasis or asthma
• Rapid lethal disease, e.g. lung cancer, advance heart failure, end-stage renal disease
• Any medical conditions that would impair their ability to participate in the study