Chest
Clinical InvestigationsAirwaysApplication and Validation of a Computerized Cough Acquisition System for Objective Monitoring of Acute Cough: A Meta-analysis
Section snippets
Computerized System
Our original computerized cough acquisition and analysis system has been described previously.8 The system was further made portable to record cough signals from human volunteers who stay at home during clinical studies. This new computerized audio timed (CAT) recorder is portable, uses a telemetric method, and operates for a long duration to enable in-home monitoring of cough for > 24 h.
The main components of the recorder are shown in Figure 1. A contact microphone (or accelerometer), attached
Results
The meta-analysis was based on a total of 710 subjects, comprising all evaluable subjects who received 30 mg dextromethorphan (n = 356) vs all evaluable subjects who received placebo (n = 354).
Discussion
This meta-analysis of six studies provides new objective evidence for the known antitussive effect of dextromethorphan using a computerized system to acquire and analyze cough sounds. The consistent nature of the results shows that the computerized cough acquisition and analysis system is reproducible and is a valid methodology to evaluate cough objectively.
The methodology was consistent across different environments; the results of the in-clinic studies were similar to those carried out in
Conclusion
We have developed a reliable, noninvasive computerized methodology that is calibrated and validated for objectively assessing the efficacy of antitussives by measuring a comprehensive range of parameters. We have presented the results of a meta-analysis of six clinical trials using this methodology and have shown that the antitussive effect of a single, oral 30-mg dose of dextromethorphan has been reproducibly established in these studies in acute cough due to uncomplicated URTI. We have also
Acknowledgment
We thank Professor John Widdicombe for his assistance and advice. We also thank Kerry Dillingham for her hard work and statistical expertise in executing the meta-analysis and Tex Warnes for his help in producing Figures 3 and 4.
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Cited by (0)
Clinical studies carried out and financed by Procter and Gamble, Corporate Health Care Research Center, Mumbai, India.