• Healthcare

Using Smartphone Apps to Monitor Congestive Heart Failure Patients

May 30, 2023

Millions of individuals worldwide are diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe health condition that may correspond to fluid buildup and possibly life-threatening complications.

However, technological breakthroughs are opening the way for novel solutions that can help identify warning indications early and save costly hospitalizations.

Cordio Medical, an Israeli health technology company, has developed HearO, a smartphone application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze a patient’s speech patterns and detect signs of heart failure in collaboration with AstraZeneca and Spain’s Bellvitge University Hospital.

This innovative software has the potential to transform CHF management by offering timely treatments and enhancing patients’ quality of life.

Detecting Heart Failure through Speech Patterns

HearO capitalizes on a clinical phenomenon known to be associated with heart failure—changes in speech patterns caused by electrical signals within the body. By leveraging microphones on off-the-shelf mobile devices, the app captures these electrical signals during speech and translates them into objective measurements.

Cordio CEO Tamir Tal explained that the app can differentiate between a stable condition and a potentially deteriorating one by analyzing the electrical signals, rather than focusing on the content or tone of the patient’s speech.

This innovative approach offers a non-invasive and convenient method for monitoring CHF patients.

Piloting HearO and its Potential Benefits

Cordio Medical, AstraZeneca, and Bellvitge University Hospital are currently piloting HearO to assess patient compliance and evaluate the software’s ability to identify potential heart failure events well in advance.

The experiment will last six to nine months and will collect crucial data on the app’s performance and influence on patient outcomes.

HearO has the potential to significantly decrease the number of CHF-related hospitalizations, which are projected to be over one million in the United States alone, by informing doctors weeks before a cardiac episode takes place.

Furthermore, early management can improve patient care, avoid complications, and reduce the cost of healthcare systems, which spend an estimated $11 billion on CHF-related expenses each year.

Affordability and Accessibility

In addition to its potential clinical benefits, HearO offers a cost-effective alternative to more invasive monitoring devices. Invasive procedures can cost up to $20,000, making them less accessible for many patients.

In contrast, Cordio Medical aims to make HearO available for approximately $80 monthly. Since the app runs on patients’ existing smartphones, compliance is expected to be high, as individuals already use their smartphones regularly throughout the day.

This eliminates the need for separate devices and addresses a common issue faced by other wearable monitoring technologies that have struggled to achieve sufficient compliance rates.

The medical-grade software, which is undergoing FDA review.

Expanding Beyond Heart Failure

While its primary focus is on CHF, the potential applications of HearO extend beyond heart failure management.

The AI-powered software can also identify conditions like Covid-19 infections or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, enabling timely medical interventions for patients with multiple health concerns.

However, it is important to note that HearO may not detect all conditions that cause head or lung congestion, as they may not affect speech mechanics in the same way.

Validated Success and Future Prospects

Studies conducted in the United States and Israel have shown promising results, with the HearO technology achieving an 82% success rate in predicting heart decompensation events up to 22 days in advance.

The accuracy and effectiveness of the app, combined with its high compliance rate among early users, position HearO as a leading contender in the field of CHF monitoring.

Cordio Medical expects HearO to receive FDA approval within the next year, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of this innovative technology. The emergence of smartphone applications like HearO is revolutionizing.

Sources:
https://www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2023/05/24/want-to-monitor-congestive-heart-failure-patients-there-s-an-app-for-that
https://www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2023/04/27/fda-regulatory-process
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/634340933/astrazeneca-bellvitge-university-hospital-begin-pilot-of-cordio-medical-s-app-that-monitors-heart-failure-by-voice