The Smartphone Revolution in Lung Health: Foundations for the Future
September 23rd, 2025
Spirometry: A century-old tool in need of reinvention
For more than a century, spirometry has been the foundation of respiratory medicine. Yet despite its clinical importance, the test remains hospital-bound, tied to bulky equipment and reliant on maximal voluntary effort. Patients often wait months for an appointment, only to receive a snapshot of their lung health. Between visits, exacerbations creep in unnoticed — until a hospitalisation makes them impossible to ignore.
"COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, claiming three million lives annually."
The human and economic cost
The consequences of this outdated model are stark. COPD affects 450 million people worldwide, and when undiagnosed cases are included, the figure may approach 900 million. In the EU, it costs over €38.6 billion annually — more than half the total respiratory disease burden. For patients, the cost is measured in years of breathlessness, lost independence, and anxiety.
Introducing electronRx
At electronRx, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, we are laying the scientific foundations for a new future. Our research presented at the European Respiratory Society demonstrated that smartphone-based spirometry can strongly correlate with gold-standard tests. More importantly, it reliably captures daily variations in lung function, opening the door to continuous monitoring at home.
"A smartphone in your pocket could soon be the most powerful respiratory tool in medicine."
Why the time is now
• For patients: The power to check their lungs daily can help reduce uncertainty and prevent emergency admissions.
• For the NHS and payers: Earlier interventions mean fewer costly hospitalisations, relieving pressure on overstretched systems.
• For pharma and medtech: Continuous, real-world datasets unlock adaptive trials, support adherence monitoring, and strengthen regulatory submissions.
Where we stand
We are not yet at clinical adoption. Our technology is in the pilot research stage, with proof-of-concept established and scaling underway. Over the next 18 months, we aim to refine and expand our platform.
A call to partners
Our mission is to transform seven billion smartphones into guardians of lung health. To accelerate this vision, we are seeking partners in pharma, medtech, and healthcare systems. Together, we can reshape the future of respiratory care for millions.
Download electronRx's ERS 2025 poster here.
