Computerized respiratory sounds: a comparison between patients with stable and exacerbated COPD

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Diagnosis of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) often relies on subjective clinical presentation.
• Computerized respiratory sounds (CRS), such as crackles and wheezes, show promise for objective AECOPD assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in CRS between stable COPD patients and those with AECOPD.
• To determine if CRS characteristics can aid in differentiating disease states.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled 13 stable COPD patients and 14 AECOPD patients.
• Recorded CRS using seven stethoscopes at multiple chest locations and trachea.
• Utilized airflow signals and validated algorithms to detect breathing phases, crackles, and wheezes.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher crackle counts and wheeze occupation rates were observed in AECOPD patients at the posterior chest.
• Elevated expiratory wheeze occupation rates were noted in AECOPD patients at the trachea and anterior chest.
• No significant differences in inspiratory crackles or wheeze occupation rates were found at the trachea, anterior, and lateral chest.

Conclusions:

• Crackles and wheezes are more prevalent in AECOPD patients, especially at the posterior chest.
• CRS analysis, integrated with computerized techniques and pulmonary auscultation, can potentially offer objective diagnosis and monitoring for AECOPD.
• This noninvasive approach supports the physical examination of patients with COPD.