[Advanced diagnostic capabilities for cough assessment utilizing the neural network model «CoughScan»: findings from a prospective, comparative observational study].

BACKGROUND

Identifying the character, frequency, and intensity of cough is crucial in clinical practice, aiding in differential diagnosis, influencing treatment choices. «CoughScan» is a software with an embedded neural network model designed to assess cough frequency in real-time for diagnostic and monitoring purposes.

AIM: To obtain additional data on the efficacy and safety of Rengalin® in the treatment of cough in adults with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) using both traditional and new intelligent technologies.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An observational study was conducted involving 60 patients with ARVI, receiving Rengalin® for cough management. Outpatient patients were divided into 2 groups: the main group (n=40) received Rengalin® for 7 days, while the control group (n=20) received no cough medication. The severity of symptoms of ARVI and cough was assessed with Cough severity scale (CSS), «CoughScan», Bronchitis Severity Scale (BSS).

RESULTS

The cough severity score on CSS decreased by 2.9 points in the Rengalin® group and by 1.5 points in the control group (p=0.0004). The average BSS score reduced by 1.3 units with Rengalin® and by 0.2 units in controls (p=0.0001). The mean duration of cough during treatment was 5.7±0.2 days versus 7.2±0.4 days without treatment (p=0.0178). Monitoring of daily cough intensity with «CoughScan» also showed a statistically significant advantage in the Rengalin® group (p<0.0001). A non-inferiority test based on the area under the curve (AUC) over 7 days indicated comparable results between «CoughScan» and the CSS, with differences within 10%.

CONCLUSION

«CoughScan» is a convenient and reliable tool for assessing cough dynamics in outpatient settings. Its data are comparable to the Cough severity scale regarding treatment efficacy, with antitussive activity of Rengalin® evident from the early days of therapy.