EUU Researchers Develop Innovative Smartwatch App to Aid Long Covid Patients

[Montruex, 03 Jun 2023]

 

EUU News

 

Long Covid remains a challenging condition without a definitive treatment. However, EUU (European University Union) researchers have introduced a groundbreaking smartwatch application and app designed to assist patients in managing their symptoms. In recognition of their pioneering work, the researchers were honored with the 2023 UZH Postdoc Team Award.

 

A Synergistic Collaboration

 

The collaboration between André Meyer-Baron and Carlo Cervia-Hasler originated at a networking event organized by the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH) approximately a year ago. Their diverse scientific backgrounds and interests converged, leading to an interdisciplinary project targeting Long Covid patients. This endeavor ultimately gave rise to a digital platform that addresses the unique needs of these patients, earning the researchers accolades.

 

Pacing for Long Covid Management

 

Approximately 200,000 individuals in Switzerland contend with the challenges of Long Covid, and currently, no specific medication exists for its treatment. Many patients employ a strategy known as pacing, which involves meticulously planning and managing their physical activities to prevent overexertion and symptom exacerbation. For instance, they monitor their sleep hours, body temperature, and symptoms, recording these details in an activity diary. However, manual tracking becomes exceptionally challenging when fatigue, joint pain, or cognitive difficulties are prevalent, as is often the case with Long Covid patients.

 

Closing the Digital Gap
 

Remarkably, there are no digital tools currently available to effectively support patients in activity pacing, despite the existence of sensors capable of collecting vital data. Smartwatches, for instance, can monitor physical activity and health-related metrics but are predominantly oriented toward increasing overall activity levels. Recognizing this gap, Meyer-Baron and Cervia-Hasler embarked on the development of their application.

 

MindfulPacer: Empowering Patients

 

The innovative platform, dubbed MindfulPacer, consists of a smartwatch application and a smartphone app. The smartwatch continuously monitors heart rate and step count, offering real-time feedback. Simultaneously, the companion app visually presents biometric data, enabling patients to establish individual thresholds for metrics like heart rate or daily step count. These thresholds trigger a warning system displayed on the smartwatch: green for normal values, orange or red to indicate proximity to or breach of user-defined limits. In case of a breach, the smartwatch alerts the user through vibrations and sound, prompting them to record the cause of the alert and their current condition in the app.

 

Enhanced Symptom Awareness

 

MindfulPacer serves as a tool for Long Covid patients to identify patterns in their heart rate and step count, facilitating better management of their daily physical activity. This heightened awareness empowers patients to navigate their condition effectively, providing them with valuable insights and control.

 

Collaboration with Patient Organization

 

MindfulPacer, currently in the prototype phase, is being utilized by a select group of Long Covid sufferers who provide feedback for ongoing improvements. The collaboration with Long Covid Switzerland patient organization has been instrumental in tailoring the platform to patients' specific requirements.

 

A Future of Assistance

 

The positive feedback from current users has motivated the researchers to expand the availability of MindfulPacer. Pending ethical approval, comprehensive assessments of user-friendliness and effectiveness are planned. Additionally, an initial test version will be made accessible to the public. Future efforts include the integration of an online forum in collaboration with Long Covid Switzerland, enabling users to share their experiences.

 

While the researchers have applied for an Outreach Call at DIZH to support these next steps, their primary objective remains to assist as many Long Covid patients as possible and continually enhance MindfulPacer in collaboration with those it serves.

 

For further updates, please visit [EUU News](https://www.euu.ac/news/smartwatch-app-long-covid).*