CHICAGO — The standard approaches to measuring flares in people with Crohn’s disease have some limitations, including an inability to signal a change in disease activity without laboratory testing or before symptoms arise.
A new device developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology could change all that.
Using data collected via a passive at-home monitoring device (Emerald sensor, Emerald Innovations Inc), researchers found that increases in breathing rate, more awakenings at night, and slower walking speed accurately predicted that a person’s Crohn’s disease activity was about to flare, according to a study presented May 7 at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2023.
In some cases, the prediction of a flare came up to 25 days sooner than via traditional measures.