Analysis of lung sounds in patients attending a respiratory clinic.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of lung sounds in patients attending a respiratory clinic using computer aided lung sound analysis (CALSA).
IRAS ID
173388
Contact name
Nor Azura Azmi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 16 days
Research summary
Lung diseases can have a serious impact on lung health, activity and general well being. In order to provide treatments as soon as possible, we need to find new ways of identifying people with lung disease in the early stages. It is now possible to record the lung sounds heard through a stethoscope onto a computer for analysis. We believe that sounds produced within the lungs may provide useful information to help us identify specific diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
It is clinically recognised that ‘velcro-type’ crackles are typical of IPF. These sounds can be heard using standard chest auscultation, but have yet to be quantified. At present, there is a paucity of studies focused on the recording and analysis of fibrotic crackles recorded in IPF patients under clinical conditions.
Our hypothesis is that we will be able to identify patients with IPF from lung sound recordings. Therefore, in this study we should like to record lung sounds using a digital stethoscope. These recorded lung sounds will then be analysed using computer aided lung sound analysis to give us more information about lung sounds.
The study will involve 90 participants. Thirty patients with a diagnosis of IPF, 30 patients with other respiratory diseases and 30 matched healthy individuals (matched on the patients with IPF). Patients with respiratory diseases will be recruited from out-patient clinic at Respiratory Medicine Department, University Hospital Southampton. Healthy individuals will be recruited from community members at the Swaythling Community Centre, Southampton.
Participants will be followed up for 12 months, with lung sounds recorded every 3-4 months to monitor change over time. The data collected will be used to determine if computerised lung sound analysis can aid the diagnosis and monitoring of IPF.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
15/WA/0220
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion