Confirming the efficacy and broader potential of their smartphone-based diagnostic app, ResApp Health Limited (ASX: RAP) clinical data referenced in a top academic publication has validated their app’s accuracy for respiratory diagnostics.

Data from their Breathe Easy adult clinical study has been published in a peer-reviewed Nature partner journal, npj Digital Medicine. The study looked at the identification of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using patient-reporting of symptoms and cough feature analysis.

The data demonstrated the accuracy of ResApp’s algorithm and flagged it as comparable to expert clinical assessment, with the app identifying exacerbation of symptoms in 82.6% of subjects already diagnosed with COPD. The app was also able to identify absence of exacerbation in 91% of patients. A high level of diagnostic agreement was also demonstrated in patients with milder exacerbations.

The study results build on previous study data to compound the growing body of evidence in support of telehealth based diagnostic solutions.

COPD arises from exposure to toxic gases and prolonged exposure to lung irritants such as cigarette smoke and air pollution. Symptoms from the restricted airflow to the lungs include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and sputum production. Patients can experience periods of acute exacerbation often requiring antibiotic or steroid intervention.

With COPD being the third leading cause of mortality worldwide, there is a need for diagnostic solutions that can identify exacerbations accurately and rapidly.

Tony Keating, CEO and Managing Director of ResApp said: “We are pleased to see this research now published in a high impact, peer-reviewed journal. This data demonstrates that cough analysis provides a quick and simple acute exacerbation of COPD diagnostic test that has a high agreement with clinical diagnosis. These algorithms are incorporated into ResAppDx, our regulatory-approved, smartphone-based acute respiratory diagnostic tool giving telehealth clinicians an accurate way to assess their COPD patients remotely and improving patient outcomes.”