New Delhi: An artificial intelligence-powered mobile application developed by a Karnataka-based startup and validated by AIIMS may soon help bridge a key diagnostic gap in India’s primary healthcare system. The app, Shwaasa, uses an algorithm-based platform to screen patients for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of India’s major causes of illness. AIIMS-Delhi conducted a validation study on 460 people at its Ballabhgarh unit last year. When compared with spirometry — the gold standard for lung function testing — the tool showed moderate overall correlation and strong agreement in severe cases.
Here’s how it works: The patient coughs into a smartphone, the microphone captures the sound and the embedded AI software analyses it instantly. Within minutes, the app flags whether the lungs appear normal or show signs of COPD or asthma. The tool is about 90% accurate in distinguishing normal from abnormal cases. Its accuracy in identifying specific conditions such as COPD and asthma ranges from 82% to 87%. The study’s findings are in the process of being published.COPD is the second leading cause of morbidity in India, but spirometry is unavailable in most district hospitals and primary care centres. “Even many district hospitals do not have spirometry facilities. It is largely limited to medical colleges,” said Dr Harshal Ramesh Salve of AIIMS, who was involved in the validation. The app analyses breathing patterns through a mobile interface and provides a diagnostic output within eight minutes. Unlike spirometry, it does not require specialised training or elaborate equipment, making it suitable for resource-limited settings. AIIMS doctors have recommended deploying the tool in primary and secondary healthcare facilities where spirometry is unavailable, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. While the app will not replace spirometry at tertiary centres such as AIIMS, experts say it can serve as an effective screening tool at the community level. “It is user-friendly, quick and requires minimal setup. Doctors can use it at their desk,” Salve said. AIIMS is also assessing its utility in tuberculosis screening as part of a separate research project.The tool is already in use in some states, including Karnataka. Plans are underway to scale up its use in Faridabad by engaging private practitioners and documenting real-world outcomes.
