Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is responsible for approximately 5% of all deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Primarily caused by smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke, indoor and outdoor air pollution can also result in COPD. There is no cure for this progressive life-threatening lung disease, but timely treatment can relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of death. We’ve written about AI-powered digital treatment for COPD and Philips’ prototype wearable for tracking COPD data.

Spry Health recently received FDA clearance to market the Loop System, a clinical-grade wristband wearable that continuously monitors pulse-oximetry, respiration, and heart rates. The Loop works without smartphone pairing, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth to give feedback to patients right on the wristband. The system also transmits data to the cloud where machine-learning and expert systems algorithms analyze data and alert healthcare professionals when patients show biometric indications of deterioration. The Loop is designed for seniors and is easy to put on and wear. Because The Loop identifies and alerts medical personnel to signs that a patient’s COPD is worsening before new symptoms appear, the actionable data enables prompt care as needed. With quick action to aid patients, the Loop helps avoid hospitalization and reduces overall healthcare costs.

Interim results from a pilot program with the University of California, San Francisco, showed that 92% of patients who wore the Loop complied with physician recommendations for monitoring their system. The Loop’s performance shines compared to the 20% compliance rate that is typically deemed a success with other methods of patient self-monitoring, Spry Health reports. Now commercially available in the U.S., the Loop is prescribed to patients by medical professionals.