Monitoring Coughs for the Early Detection of Worsening COPD

This is a prospective, multi-center, observational cohort study designed to evaluate the accuracy of a continuous, passive acoustic monitoring system (Hyfe) for the early detection of COPD exacerbations. COPD exacerbations are a major driver of disease progression and healthcare utilization, but current detection methods rely on subjective patient-reported symptoms. Cough is a core symptom of COPD, and its objective quantification may provide an early warning signal for clinical worsening. This study aims to determine if changes in cough frequency, as measured by the Hyfe system, can predict an upcoming exacerbation with a clinically relevant lead time. The study will enroll two cohorts of patients with a COPD diagnosis: outpatients with a history of frequent exacerbations and inpatients hospitalized for a severe exacerbation. Participants will use the Hyfe Cough Monitor Suite to continuously track cough frequency and will complete the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire weekly. To ensure an unbiased assessment, treating clinicians will be blinded to all study-collected data (both cough counts and CAT scores). The clinical diagnosis of a COPD exacerbation, as defined by GOLD 2025 criteria and made by the blinded clinician, will serve as the ground truth endpoint.