Transforming Respiratory Diagnostics

USAID-supported Swaasa evaluates respiratory health using a cough sound recording. (Photograph courtesy USAID/India) 

Imagine falling sick, and instead of waiting in long hospital lines, you can get a preliminary diagnosis in seconds by simply coughing into a smartphone. This is a reality, thanks to Swaasa. This artificial intelligence (AI) tool analyzes cough sounds and symptoms to screen, diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions. Swaasa eliminates the need for on-site specialists for diagnosis and is user-friendly and affordable.

The significance of Swaasa has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the need for remote diagnostic tools became urgent. However, the Swaasa AI platform, which is intended for use by doctors and medical professionals, has broader applications, offering a versatile screening option for various respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis.

Traditional diagnostic methods often involve time-consuming procedures, specialized equipment and trained professionals, making access to care challenging. By enabling early detection, Swaasa can help prevent disease progression, reduce mortality rates and improve overall respiratory health outcomes.

Developed by Hyderabad-based Salcit Technologies, Swaasa has received support from USAID through the SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility. SAMRIDH supported the commercial validation of the Swaasa AI platform by implementing it in government health facilities in selected states.

“Through its blended financing initiative, SAMRIDH, USAID/India fosters a health care ecosystem that allows innovations to access both market and capital toward addressing critical health system challenges,” says Neeta Rao, senior health lead at USAID/India. “Swaasa is a promising and affordable health care solution and has huge potential in the artificial intelligence and machine learning space for national and global benefit.”

A cough away from diagnosis

Swaasa uses AI and machine learning models to analyze the cough sounds along with other information like temperature, oxygen saturation and symptoms to assess the user’s lungs. The app aims to make pulmonary health care accessible and affordable, replacing the spirometry test that measures lung function.

Data about symptoms and vitals and the recording of a cough audio clip are all done within the app. The audio clip is analyzed using proprietary algorithms. Within moments, Swaasa delivers a detailed assessment, identifying potential respiratory issues, for interpretation by a health care practitioner.

“Swaasa is an invaluable tool for triage and screening, surpassing traditional spirometry with its ease of use and diagnostic accuracy,” says Dr. Harshal, pulmonologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ballabgarh. “Its availability in multiple languages and quick and accurate results make it an indispensable tool for doctors and beneficial for marginalized communities.” Currently deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh through private health service providers and nongovernmental organizations, Swaasa has grown from 5,000 scans a month in 2023 to over 10,000 scans a month in 2024.

Transformative impact

Swaasa has directly benefited over 15,000 patients by integrating cutting-edge technology into health systems. The increased usage suggests it could positively impact over 160,000 users within a year.

Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM), a nonprofit organization, provides vital counseling and care for families affected by HIV in urban and rural villages in India. VMM staff members were trained by Salcit Technologies to use Swaasa for screening pulmonary tuberculosis. Out of the 25 high-risk HIV patients screened by VMM, Swaasa detected pulmonary tuberculosis in 11 patients.

The platform challenges conventional methods, offering a new, cost-effective approach to disease detection. For instance, the referral rates for X-rays nearly tripled at the rural health center in Simhachalam, Andhra Pradesh, demonstrating Swaasa’s efficacy in bringing forth previously overlooked cases.

“Swaasa has transformed respiratory assessments post-COVID. It simplifies the process, bridging the gap left by restricted physical examinations and distinguishing between upper and lower respiratory issues,” says Dr. Rani, a pulmonologist at a rural health center in Simhachalam. “Its accuracy is impressive, earning it a solid 5, on a scale of 1 to 5, for its game-changing impact on modern health care.”

Salcit Technologies is now enhancing Swaasa’s capabilities by adding voice and inhalation/exhalation sound components to increase predictability and reliability. The plans for scale-up include partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and enterprise health care providers, as well as discussions with state governments for deployment under tuberculosis elimination programs.

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