AI and Digital Technologies Revolutionizing COPD Management

At the CHEST 2024 annual meeting in Boston, Caroline Quill, MD, an associate professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center, outlined how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are revolutionizing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis and treatment.

The Role of AI and Digital Technologies in COPD

Opening her session, “New Horizons in COPD,” Quill defined AI, explaining it as computing capabilities that can undertake sophisticated tasks traditionally necessitating human effort. She identified machine learning and deep learning as the most prevalent AI applications in clinical scenarios.

Understanding Digital Technologies

Digital technologies encompass tools such as telehealth and remote monitoring. According to Quill, while AI facilitates diagnosis and evaluates risk factors, digital technologies focus on monitoring treatment utilization and patient adherence to therapies.

Potential and Pitfalls of Digital Innovations

• Patient Engagement: Digital health tools can enhance communication with patients and support symptom recognition.
• Market Concerns: Quill emphasized the risk of misleading app development, motivated more by profit than patient care, amidst a $70 billion mobile health app market.
• Regulatory Insights: The FDA only governs apps that are considered medical device accessories, leaving many mobile applications outside its supervision.

Dr. Quill pointed out that at their best, these innovations promote patient-centered care, while poorly regulated apps could mislead patients, drawing them away from evidence-based treatments.

Looking Ahead: The Future of COPD Treatment

Despite potential drawbacks, Quill remains hopeful about AI's role in enhancing diagnostics and therapy for COPD patients.