Early Detection of Pulmonary Exacerbations in Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

The aim of the study is to find out if data collected from home monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI) in patients with non-Cystic Fibrosis bronchiectasis can be used to detect pulmonary exacerbations (chest infections) before participants get symptoms of an infection. The infection can then be treated sooner and therefore potentially reduce long term lung damage. This study builds on previous work that has been done with patients who have a lung condition called cystic fibrosis and has shown favourable results. The AI technology relates to the predictive algorithm and not to any devices.

Potential participants will be approached during routine clinic visits (face to face or virtual) to offer more information regarding the study, provided with written and verbal information, given the opportunity to ask questions and given ample time to make a decision regarding whether or not they would like to take part.

Fifty patients from Royal Papworth Hospital who have a diagnosis of non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis and who have a history of one or more pulmonary exacerbations in the previous year will be asked to perform home monitoring, record episodes of infection and provide a daily sputum sample for 6 months.

Participants will be provided with -

• a handheld spirometer to record Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (lung function)
• a Fitbit, or other compatible activity monitor, to record activity and heart rate
• a saturation monitor that fits painlessly on the end of the finger to record oxygen levels
• weighing scales to record weight
• a mini freezer and pre-labelled sample containers to store a daily sputum sample. There is enough room in the freezers for samples to be brought to routine clinic visits. We will provide a cool bag and freezer packs for this. A courier collection of the samples can be arranged if necessary.

Participants will be encouraged to perform lung function, activity and oxygen levels at least 4 x per week.

Participants will be guided through how to set up and use each piece of equipment by the research team. The devices all connect to a smartphone app called Breathe RM (Remote Monitor) (free to download) via Bluetooth. Once set up using the home monitoring devices and adding notes to the app should take no more than 15 minutes per day.

Participants will be asked to record in the app -

• episodes of pulmonary exacerbation that require antibiotic treatment
• coughing and wellness scores daily

We want to find out how participants find performing home monitoring and what impact it has on quality of life. To assess this we will ask participants to complete a questionnaire to find out how acceptable they find using the equipment and app at home and a questionnaire that gives information regarding quality of life. These questionnaires can be provided on paper or electronically depending on participant preference. They should take no more than 15 minutes each to complete. The acceptability questionnaire will be taken 3 months into the study and at the end of the study. The quality-of-life questionnaire will be taken at the start, middle and end of the study. If a participant withdraws they will be asked to perform the questionnaires at this time.

Participants who use a nebuliser will be given the option to change to a Pari eFlow rapid nebuliser with Pari Connect. The nebuliser connects to an app on their smartphone via Bluetooth and monitors how often the participant takes their inhaled medications. Participants will be guided through how to use this equipment.

A score of how breathless participants (MRC Dyspnoea Scale) are and how severe the bronchiectasis (Bronchiectasis Severity Index) is will be performed at the start and end of the study by the clinical or research team and takes a few minutes.

Participants will be invited to virtual groups or one to one discussions to give feedback to the research team regarding the experience of being on the study. This is voluntary and participants will not be identified when the study is written up for publication.

Participants will be provided with a phone number and email address to contact the research team during office hours with any study related issues. All clinical queries should be directed to the clinical team as usual. Participants can withdraw at any time and it will have no impact on their care.

Results of the study will be made available through email, text, newsletters, hospital social media and virtual group / individual discussions.