Kaia Health has introduced a feasibility study to examine the impact of its digital therapeutic treatment of COPD in Japan’s aging population. This follows a German pilot study which successfully decreased symptoms.
The Kaia Health COPD app addresses physical and psychological factors of the disease. The content is based on clinically validated patient guidelines and allows users to better self-manage their COPD.
The app includes video-based physiotherapy which offers exercises to help patients build muscle and promote a healthy cardiovascular system, whilst a training algorithm adjusts the support based on each patient’s disease profile and feedback.
Psychosocial support is provided through audio-based relaxation exercises to manage anxiety and depression and to cope with dyspnea attacks. Patients can also contact a coach via the app who will answer app-specific questions, work with users on their individual goals and offer motivation.
The app teaches patients about breathing and coughing techniques, nutrition and advice on the impact air pollution has on their condition. Alerts inform patients when medication is due, and video instructions help patients to perfect inhalation – a necessity as up to 60% of COPD patients do not adhere to their medication correctly.
In Japan, COPD represents a major health problem and socioeconomic burden. Patients with COPD experience a reduced quality of life (QoL) and report significant use of health care resources. The prevalence of COPD in Japan is 8.6% in patients aged ?40 years and up to 10.3% in patients aged ?60 years. It is hoped that the Kaia Health COPD app could be made available in Japan if the feasibility study proves successful.
Users who completed 20 therapy days with the Kaia COPD app had a clinically significant benefit in their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) scores as well as other areas, including emotion, mastery, and fatigue.
“Conventional COPD treatment is expensive and resource-intense, particularly in developed countries such as Japan which has a huge aging populations and rapidly increasing healthcare costs,” said Konstantin Mehl, founder & CEO of Kaia Health.
“Our AI-powered COPD treatment is effective, widely accessible and can be used at home. This empowers patients to take control and self-manage their COPD with evidenced-based, non-pharmacological, affordable alternatives which means more people globally can benefit from it. Our mission is to reduce the socioeconomic burden of COPD in Japan and the impact it may have on the working-age population which, ultimately, could inform healthcare policies worldwide.”
