An exercise app for a common lung condition that was developed by Southampton researchers has been recommended for use in the UK.
The myCOPD app is designed to help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to manage their condition. It was created by a team led by Prof Tom Wilkinson at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.
The app has now been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Social Care (NICE) for an exercise-based treatment, known as pulmonary rehabilitation. It is one of the first health apps to be endorsed by NICE in this way.
Exercise as treatment
Pulmonary rehabilitation, or pulmonary rehab for short, is an exercise programme for people with lung disease. It also helps give them a better understanding of how they can manage their condition.
COPD affects more than a million people in England. It is estimated that a further two million remain undiagnosed.
The progressive condition causes coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. Infections like a cold or the flu can cause ‘exacerbations’, where their condition worsens and can require hospital treatment.
Of those who complete an in-person course of pulmonary rehab, 90 percent report being more active and having a better quality of life afterwards. They feel less tired and breathless when doing day-to-day activities, and can walk further.
Research has found they also have fewer exacerbations, GP appointments and trips to A&E.
Empowering patients
The problem with in-person pulmonary rehab is that not many people turn up. Less than 13% of people invited attend. This could be because sessions are in working hours, mixed gender or too far away.
The myCOPD app allows people with COPD to exercise at home at a time that suits them. It can be used anywhere with an internet connection, on a tablet, phone, computer or smart TV.
They can also use it to keep a record of their medication and lung health, and get support to give up smoking. Patients can also choose to share these records with their doctor.
The app is intended to support, rather than replace, their existing NHS care. It has grown in popularity over the last five years, with a particular increase seen after COVID-19 restrictions.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic we became the leading provider of pulmonary rehab in the country,” says Prof Wilkinson, “because you couldn’t do it face-to-face, you could only do it through digital platforms.”
Evidence-based apps
The app, myCOPD, is the first of a series developed by my mhealth to help patients manage a variety of health conditions. These apps are already being used by over 120,000 patients, and around half of all NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards.
The company, my mhealth, is a spin-out from the University of Southampton. Originally developed for UK patients, their apps are now also available in India, and the US.
“These apps are not just things you might have on your phone,” explains Prof Wilkinson, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Associate Dean for Enterprise at the University of Southampton.
“We’ve treated them like medical devices. They’ve gone through MHRA and NHS approval processes, all the governance around medical technologies and a series of very formal clinical trials. This has led to NICE recommending myCOPD for pulmonary rehabilitation.”
Developing the app further
Prof Wilkinson is now working with Prof Michael Boniface to develop mySmartCOPD. This is taking the myCOPD app, and using it to build an early warning system.
This will use artificial intelligence (AI) to alert healthcare providers if a patient with COPD needs additional treatment, for example during exacerbations.
They are testing this in a clinical trial, to see if this early warning system can prevent the patient’s condition from getting worse and avoid the need for emergency care in hospital.