RespiWear: A wearable health monitoring system for patients with respiratory diseases

Abstract

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are diseases of the airways and other structures of the lung. Some of the most common are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. These diseases place a significant burden on the global healthcare system. According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3 million people die from COPDs each year, accounting for an estimated 6% of deaths worldwide. About 235 million people suffer from asthma, a common disease among children. The conditions of patients with respiratory illnesses can deteriorate suddenly and can have severe implications if not managed properly. There can be a number of underlying causes which result in acute episodes of illness, these include: environmental factors (e.g., high pollen & pollution levels), over-exertion and the presence of allergens. A wearable or portable system that continuously monitors a patient’s respiratory condition, physical activity levels and environmental variables has the potential to provide personalized information that can help the patient easily manage his own health with little intervention from the doctor. For example, such a system may warn an asthma patient in Islamabad to limit his physical activity on a day when pollen levels are high. We present our efforts towards developing a wearable system that would enable patients with respiratory diseases to better manage their disease and hence, increase their quality of life. The proposed wearable system consists of two modules: a wristband and a Chest Belt. The sensors on the wristband measure environmental parameters, which include the concentration of ambient ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and dust density. Whereas, the array of sensors on the chest belt measure physiological parameters like heart rate, respiratory rate, three-axis acceleration and electrocardiogram (ECG). An individual’s exposure to environmental pollutants has a direct correlation with physiological parameters and subsequent adverse health responses. Prior to the occurrence of acute episodes of respiratory illnesses, anomalies in the above parameters are detected and the patient is advised to act according to the situation. This system will also permit a better understanding of the impact of the increased ozone levels and other pollutants on chronic respiratory illnesses.