In another world-first study with the University of Canterbury’s Geohealth Lab and Sweden’s Future Position X, the CRCSI are coupling sensor technology and citizen science to measure and monitor chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient outcomes.
COPD is a major cause of disability, hospital admission and premature death. There have been no recent economic studies but in 2008, the financial cost to the Australian economy of COPD was $8.8b with a further $89.4b estimated as the overall wellbeing loss due to this chronic disease for that year. Using sensor technology, location tagged inhalers, geospatial and geostatistical research, this project will develop new and cost-effective ways for monitoring patients with COPD. Due to the ability to combine real-time environmental and patient health data, predictive modelling will reduce preventable hospitalisations. An exciting step towards the future of patient empowered technology and a sustainable health system.