Advancing CRD Monitoring Through Measurement Techniques

Description of the project

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) contain a group of long-term conditions affecting the airways and other structures of the lungs, leading to impaired respiratory function and difficulty breathing. The two most common CRDs are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ­ Neither asthma nor COPD can be cured but treatment can reduce symptoms, prevent deterioration and improve daily life.

The worldwide prevalence of asthma and COPD is profound, with an estimated half a billion individuals living with these conditions. Tragically, these 2 conditions cause almost 4 million deaths every year, positioning COPD as the third leading cause of mortality worldwide. Respiratory diseases represent a significant global health challenge with great implications for individuals, healthcare systems, and economies.

Self-management strategies can be employed for slowing the disease progression, enhancing the patient’s quality of life and establishing personalized treatment. However, sustaining these strategies over time can be challenging for patients. A promising approach to enhancing adherence to self-management regimens is through self-monitoring of physical parameters and biofeedback mechanisms. By empowering patients to track their symptoms, medication adherence, and lifestyle behaviors, self-monitoring promotes greater awareness of their health status and fosters a sense of control over their condition. Furthermore, real-time biofeedback mechanisms provide personalized insights and encouragement, motivating patients to adhere to their treatment plans such as breath exercises.

Traditional methods of monitoring often lack real-time data. However, recent advancements in technology have offered innovative solutions for measurement, biofeedback, and disease progression analysis. In this interdisciplinary project we will advance the state of art regarding measuring methods/techniques, signal processing, and biofeedback to improve self-management of CRDs.

Expected results

The project will advance state-of-the-art in the following areas:

• measurement techniques for CRD
• analyzing of sensor data related to CRD
• usefulness of the measurement techniques for CRD as biofeedback to the patient

In the future the integration of health-promoting technologies offers exciting opportunities for remote monitoring, real-time biofeedback, and personalized care delivery. Consequently, healthcare providers can gain valuable insights into patients' condition and optimize treatment outcomes. In addition, patients living with chronic respiratory conditions engages in self-monitoring that ultimately improves the quality of their life.

This research relates to the following sustainable development goals

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