Together with the Swedish pharmaceutical company Novartis and Hospital Selayang north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a three-day screening programme to identify people with undiagnosed COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was recently conducted.
The initial feedback from physicians and patients has been very positive, said Daniel Taub, President of Pond Healthcare Innovation. They appreciate the simplicity and the low price of our product. These two factors make it possible to start more programmes like these to find patients who have not been diagnosed.
Air Smart Spirometer is connected to the headphone jack on an iPhone. An app guides the user through the test and displays the results. The product is CE certified and used in the same way as the much more expensive systems available in health centers and hospitals.
– This mobile app, which is both easy to use and inexpensive, has the potential to make a difference to healthcare and patients worldwide, says Dr Martin Anderson.
Air Smart Spirometer is also available for private individuals via the AppStore. A starter pack where both the app and the measuring instrument are included costs about 300 SEK.
COPD is a disease that affects an enormous number of patients worldwide, and through our partnership with Novartis, we now have the opportunity to help many of them to get the right diagnosis, said Daniel Taub.
Facts about COPD (source: Heart and Lung Foundation)
• Every twenty Swede, or at least half a million people, are living with COPD.
• Only one in five have been diagnosed. This means that at least 400 000 people in Sweden live with COPD without knowing it.
• Each year over 2 500 people die from COPD in Sweden, and the number is increasing.
• Early diagnosis can slow disease progression and reduce mortality.
