Cough/ Heart rate correlations offer new insights into respiratory and cardiovascular health

Cost-benefit analysis of at-home COPD monitoring

Summary

Explores the cost-effectiveness of at-home monitoring for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations using a cough monitoring system. It highlights the significant economic burden COPD imposes on healthcare systems, especially through acute exacerbations that often lead to costly hospitalizations.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) incurs billions in medical expenditures annually, with acute exacerbations and subsequent hospitalizations being significant cost drivers. At-home cough monitoring is a promising innovation with the potential to reshape this landscape.

This analysis examines the cost-effectiveness of cough monitoring systems for early detection of COPD exacerbations.
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  1. The paper evaluates the costs and potential savings associated with using at-home cough monitoring for a cohort of 10,000 patients.
  2. The total annual cost of the program, including equipment and operational expenses, would be around $18.47 million.
  3. The program would prevent 2,286 hospitalizations, resulting in savings of approximately $29.72 million annually, yielding a 161% return on investment (ROI).
  4. The program would remain profitable with a detection rate as low as 28%
  5. Even if the prevention rate drops to 32%, the program would still yield a positive cost-benefit ratio.

Originally published: August 2023
Last updated: September 2024