Measurement of Coughing Capacity and Peak Expiratory Flow Using Smartphone-Based Voice Tool: A New Screening Diagnostic Tool
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63822/48vddx32Keywords:
Peak Cough Flow, Peak expiratory flow, Sound Intensity, SmartphoneAbstract
This study evaluates smartphone-based cough sound analysis as a non-invasive alternative to traditional flow meters for measuring Peak Cough Flow (PCF) and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). We compared Coughing Sound Intensity (CSI) measured via a Voice Tools (VT) application across three smartphones (iPhone, Samsung, Xiaomi) against a standard Sound Level Meter (SLM). In 62 healthy adults, significant positive correlations were found between PCF and CSI measured by both SLM (r = 0.372, p = 0.003) and the iPhone app (VTi) (ρ = 0.402, p = 0.001). PEF also significantly correlated with huffing sound intensity using SLM, VTi, and Samsung. Among the tested smartphones, VTi demonstrated the strongest predictive value for reduced PCF (60.78% sensitivity, 72.73% specificity) and PEF. While the SLM retained the highest overall sensitivity for predicting reduced PCF (87.5%), the iPhone application provided the most robust smartphone-based correlation. Conclusively, smartphone voice applications, particularly on iOS devices, offer a promising and accessible method to evaluate respiratory function parameters, correlating effectively with standard clinical measurement tools.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anitta Florence Stans Paulus, Yovita Nindita Putri Pamungkas, Tashiani Candra (Author)
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