RecruitingNot ApplicableObservational

Testing whether home sensors can predict flare-ups in chronic lung disease

Researchers are looking into whether new home monitoring tools can help people with a long-term lung condition called COPD. You might know COPD as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The study wants to see if using smartwatches, home air quality monitors, and a quick daily online check-in can help spot when someone might be about to have a 'flare-up' – a sudden worsening of their symptoms. Catching these flare-ups earlier could help people manage their condition better and potentially avoid hospital stays. The first part of the study involves asking people with COPD and healthcare professionals what they think of the system to make it easy and safe to use. The second part will test if the system works well in real homes.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Not Applicable

Sponsor

University of Bristol

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2026

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

What is this study about?

This study is about creating and testing a new system to help people with a long-term lung condition called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD can cause breathing difficulties, and sometimes symptoms can suddenly get much worse, which is called a 'flare-up' or 'exacerbation'. These flare-ups can be very serious, affect daily life, and sometimes lead to hospital visits.

Catching these flare-ups early could make a big difference, allowing people to get help or adjust their self-care sooner. However, it's often hard to predict when a flare-up might happen. This research project wants to see if combining different types of information can give an earlier warning. They are developing a system that uses a smartwatch (like the kind you wear on your wrist, which tracks things like heart rate), a monitor for your home to check air quality (like dust particles, temperature, and humidity), and a brief online diary where you report your symptoms each day.

The study has two main parts. First, they will talk to people with COPD and doctors to understand what they need from such a system, making sure it's easy to use and helpful. This involves surveys, interviews, and trying out a test version of the system. The second part involves a small group of people with COPD trying out the full monitoring system in their homes. This will help the researchers understand if people can use the system easily in their daily lives, if they use it regularly, and if the data collected is complete. It's important to know that during this study, the system won't give medical advice or send automatic warnings; your usual medical care will continue as normal. The goal is to see if this approach is promising enough to plan a larger study in the future.

Key takeaways

Aims to detect COPD flare-ups earlier using home monitoring.
Uses smartwatches, home air quality monitors, and daily symptom reports.
No medical advice from the system; continue usual care.
Focuses on making the system user-friendly and testing if it's practical.
Could help design future tools for better COPD management.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult aged 18 or older and have a confirmed diagnosis of COPD from your doctor. You should also have had between one and three COPD flare-ups in the last year that needed treatment like antibiotics, steroids, or a hospital visit.

You should be comfortable using digital devices, either on your own or with help from a family member or carer. This means being able to enter your symptoms online, wear a smartwatch for a good part of the day, and have a home air quality monitor in your house. You'll also need access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer and home internet or mobile data to send information.

Unfortunately, you can't join if you have memory problems that would make it hard to understand and agree to the study, or if you have another main lung condition like severe asthma. You also can't take part if you've had a serious heart problem or stroke recently, have unstable heart, kidney, or liver disease, certain active cancers, or any other serious health issue that the study team feels would make taking part unsafe or too difficult.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older with a diagnosed COPD condition?
Have you had 1-3 COPD flare-ups in the last year needing treatment?
Are you able to use a smartphone/tablet/computer and have home internet?
Are you willing to wear a smartwatch and have a home monitor?
Do you have good memory and understanding to agree to the study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you might take part in one of two ways. In the first part, you could be asked to complete an online survey about what you'd want from a monitoring system. Some people might also have an interview, either online or in person, or try out a test version of the system to give feedback on how easy it is to use. This part is about making the system better and safer before more people use it.

In the second part, which will involve up to 60 adults with COPD, you would use a monitoring platform at home for a period of time. This includes wearing a smartwatch, having a home air quality monitor, and completing a short online symptom check-in every day. You'll also be able to record any suspected flare-ups and details about them. Some short voice recordings might also be collected.

At the start, a researcher will collect some basic health information from you. During the study, researchers will track your flare-ups from your reports and a follow-up questionnaire. With your permission, they might also check your medical records to confirm flare-up details. At the end, you might be asked to fill out questionnaires about your experience or join a discussion group. The total duration of your participation will depend on which part of the study you join, but the at-home monitoring could last several months.

Potential risks and benefits

There might not be a direct medical benefit to you from taking part in this study, meaning it might not immediately improve your health. However, a major benefit is that you'd be helping researchers create and test a new monitoring system that could, in the future, help many people with COPD recognise flare-ups earlier and understand what causes them. This could lead to better ways to manage the condition. The risks of taking part are expected to be low. You might find it a bit inconvenient to do daily symptom checks, or the smartwatch could cause some minor skin irritation. It might also be frustrating if the technology doesn't always work perfectly. Some people might worry about their privacy when sharing health information, but the study will use very secure ways to handle your data, and your medical records will only be checked if you give your specific permission. Importantly, this monitoring system won't replace your usual medical care, and you should always follow your doctor's advice. You are always free to stop participating in the study at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (2)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

North Bristol NHS Trust
City only
Bristol, England
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
City only
Hull, England

Common questions

What is a 'flare-up' in COPD?

A flare-up, or exacerbation, is when your COPD symptoms like breathlessness, cough, or phlegm suddenly get much worse than usual.

Will this system give me medical advice?

No, during this study, the system won't give you any medical advice, alerts, or treatment recommendations. You should continue to follow your doctor's advice and your usual care plan.

What kind of information will the smartwatch collect?

The smartwatch will quietly gather information like your heart rate and how active you are throughout the day.

Do I need my own smartphone or computer?

Yes, you or a family member/carer will need access to a compatible smartphone, tablet, or computer, along with home internet or mobile data, to use the system.

Who is paying for this research?

This study is funded by the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre in the UK.

How to find out more

Zoe Trinder-Widdes

zt13589@bristol.ac.uk +44 (0)117 455 4970 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.