Exhaled breath condensate based breath analyser: Real-time thermofluidic standardisation of hydrogen peroxide for longitudinal COPD monitoring: a pilot investigation
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet current monitoring strategies based on clinic spirometry and symptom reporting often fail to detect early exacerbations. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) offers a non-invasive alternative; however, substantial variability in biomarker concentrations has limited its clinical translation. This study aimed to quantify longitudinal variability of EBC hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in healthy volunteers and COPD participants and to determine whether real-time correction for physiological sampling conditions could improve measurement consistency. We developed a handheld EBC collection device integrating temperature and inspiratory flow sensors with an on-the-fly correction algorithm to compensate for temperature- and flow-dependent heat and mass transfer effects. In artificial breath experiments, the algorithm reduced measurement variability from 20% to 7%. In a three-month longitudinal pilot study, 15 COPD participants and 15 healthy volunteers were assessed at monthly intervals (three visits per subject). H2O2 concentrations were significantly higher in COPD participants than in healthy controls (p < 0.001), and this difference was preserved after standardisation. After standardisation, month-to-month variation in healthy volunteers was no longer statistically significant. Electrochemical detection using a Prussian blue-based sensor showed good agreement with a fluorometric…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 15 participants or records.
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