Should respiratory rate be measured on admission over a few seconds by a smartphone application or over 15 minutes by a piezoelectric device? A prospective observational pilot study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to alow-resource Ugandan hospital

Should respiratory rate be measured on admission over a few seconds by a smartphone application or over 15 minutes by a piezoelectric device? A prospective observational pilot study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to alow-resource Ugandan hospital

Background: the optimal period over which respiratory rate should be measured is uncertain.
Setting: medical ward of low resource Ugandan hospital,
Methods: comparison of the first respiratory rates measured on admission over seconds using a smartphone application with measurements over 15 minutes using a piezoelectric device.
Results: There was a poor correlation between respiratory rates measured by the piezoelectric device and rates measured by a smartphone application. Although the discrimination for mortality of piezoelectric respiratory rates were slightly higher than those derived from the application, there were not statistically significant differences.
Conclusion: this study could not demonstrate potential clinical benefits that justify measuring the first respiratory rate after admission over 15 minutes by a device.

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Should respiratory rate be measured on admission over a few seconds by a smartphone application or over 15 minutes by a piezoelectric device? A prospective observational pilot study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to alow-resource Ugandan hospital

6th November 2024
PMID: 39513260
Authors Affiliations
Franck Katembo Sikakulya Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Kampala International University Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique du Graben, Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Immaculate Nakitende Nurse, Emergency and out-patient department, Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda
Joan Nabiryo Nurse, Emergency and out-patient department, Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda
Sylivia Namuleme Director of Nursing, Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda
Alfred Lumala Medical Director, Kitouv Hospital, Masaka, Uganda
John Kellett Visiting Professor, School of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bolton, United Kingdom

Should respiratory rate be measured on admission over a few seconds by a smartphone application or over 15 minutes by a piezoelectric device? A prospective observational pilot study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to alow-resource Ugandan hospital

Cite this article as:

Sikakulya FK, Nakitende I, Nabiryo J, Namuleme S, Lumala A, Kellett J. Should respiratory rate be measured on admission over a few seconds by a smartphone application or over 15 minutes by a piezoelectric device? A prospective observational pilot study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to a low-resource Ugandan hospital. Acute Med. 2024;23(3):118-126. doi: 10.52964/AMJA.0986. PMID: 39513260.

Should respiratory rate be measured on admission over a few seconds by a smartphone application or over 15 minutes by a piezoelectric device? A prospective observational pilot study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to alow-resource Ugandan hospital

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