Innovation in technologies for monitoring lung function in patients with respiratory disease

Pulmonary function testing is a pillar of respiratory medicine, contributing to the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases and supporting therapeutic decisions. The aim of this review is to summarise advances in the field of lung function monitoring, presenting both innovation in current everyday lung function testing, as well as newer physiological and functional imaging techniques. We highlight the potential clinical utility of novel digital tools, such as smart inhalers, wearables and sensors, that enable continuous real-time monitoring of lung physiological parameters and assessment of therapeutic interventions. Finally, current evidence for the application of artificial intelligence tools, such as machine- and deep-learning algorithms, in lung function interpretation is discussed.