Continuous cough monitoring in oncology: a new promising frontier for early detection and improved outcomes

Continuous cough monitoring holds substantial promise for earlier detection and management of pulmonary complications and infections in oncology, particularly those arising from antineoplastic therapies and radiotherapy. 

With 23–51% of antineoplastic drugs leading to drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DI-ILD) and a reported average of two years to achieve a correct diagnosis, clinicians urgently need novel, reliable tools to flag early warning signs. Cough - one of the most prominent but under-researched symptoms of DI-ILD - is well-suited to serve this function. Nearly half of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy develop DI-ILD, and the most robust predictor of mortality with DI-ILD is severity at diagnosis.

At the same time, patients undergoing chemotherapy are at increased risk for opportunistic or community-acquired infections, which can delay treatment or lead to severe complications and worse prognosis if not recognized promptly. Continuous monitoring of cough throughout cancer treatment could enable earlier detection of infections and faster intervention, supporting the best possible prognosis for immunocompromised patients.

Beyond DI-ILD and chemotherapy-related risks, continuous cough monitoring also enables earlier identification of radiation pneumonitis, a frequent adverse event in up to 30% of patients receiving radiotherapy for lung cancer. Because this complication can appear months after treatment and is associated with high morbidity, real-time changes in cough frequency or pattern might serve as a reliable early warning sign. 

Recent advances in AI-powered cough monitoring solutions - whether deployed on smartphones, wearables, or bedside devices - offer accurate, longitudinal cough quantification that can alert clinicians to significant changes in cough trends. By providing a cost-effective means of detecting both pulmonary events and respiratory infections in real time, these platforms hold potential to reduce healthcare utilization, help maintain critical treatment schedules, and improve patient quality of life and overall outcomes.

Curious about the leading cough monitoring technology in real-world environments and how it can allow you to detect complications in oncology patients early? Contact us at research@hyfe.com to learn more and schedule a call.

‍

References:

Skeoch S, Weatherley N, Swift AJ, et al. Drug-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2018;7(10):356. Published 2018 Oct 15. doi:10.3390/jcm7100356

Rades D, Werner EM, Glatzel E, et al. Early Identification of Pneumonitis in Patients Irradiated for Lung Cancer-Final Results of the PARALUC Trial. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(2):326. Published 2023 Jan 4. doi:10.3390/cancers15020326

Molassiotis A, Smith JA, Mazzone P, et al. CHEST Expert Cough Panel. Symptomatic Treatment of Cough Among Adult Patients With Lung Cancer: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report [published correction appears in Chest. 2017 Nov;152(5):1095. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2017.09.030]. Chest. 2017;151(4):861-874. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2016.12.028

Aso S, Navarro-Martin A, Castillo R, et al. Severity of radiation pneumonitis, from clinical, dosimetric and biological features: a pilot study. Radiat Oncol. 2020;15(1):246. Published 2020 Oct 27. doi:10.1186/s13014-020-01694-1

Ryan KJ, Nero D, Feinberg BA, et al. Real-world incidence and cost of pneumonitis post-chemoradiotherapy for Stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. Future Oncol. 2020;16(1):4303-4313. doi:10.2217/fon-2019-0524

Gabaldón-Figueira JC, Keen E, Rudd M, et al. Longitudinal passive cough monitoring and its implications for detecting changes in clinical status. ERJ Open Res. 2022;8(2):00001-2022. Published 2022 May 16. doi:10.1183/23120541.00001-2022

‍