For Long Covid sufferers, the only effective therapy to date has proven to be observing their own stress limits. To support this, UZH researchers developed an innovative smartwatch application and a companion app that gives patients more control. They will be honored with the UZH Postdoc Team Award.
André Meyer-Baron and Carlo Cervia-Hasler met around a year ago at a networking event organized by the digitalization initiative of Zurich's universities (DIZH). In conversation, they quickly realized that their scientific knowledge and interests complement each other perfectly.
André Meyer-Baron is researching productivity-enhancing approaches for knowledge workers at the Institute of Computer Science. Among other things, he has developed a digital platform that helps teams find a better balance between focused work and teamwork. Carlo Cervia-Hasler works at the Department of Immunology at the University Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich on biomarkers for the detection of long Covid in the blood. The trained doctor and researcher has developed a score that can be used to map the individual risk of developing Long Covid.
"I asked Carlo for advice for a friend who was suffering from Long Covid," recalls Meyer-Baron. The conversation led to an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration that resulted in the development of a digital platform for long-Covid patients. The two successful young scientists recently received the UZH Postdoc Team Award.
According to estimates, around 200,000 people in Switzerland suffer from long Covid - and there is still no drug therapy. This is why many patients are currently using the strategy of "activity pacing" to keep their symptoms at bay. They plan and dose their physical activities precisely in order to avoid overexertion, so-called "crashes". For example, those affected measure how long they sleep, their body temperature or record their symptoms and physical activities in a diary. However, all of this is difficult to do manually if you are in a state of fatigue, malaise and potential cognitive impairment, which often occurs in those affected.
"So far, there is a lack of digital tools that effectively support activity pacing, even though sensors that could provide important data for this already exist," explains Meyer-Baron, whose research also includes the use of biometric sensors. Smartwatches, for example, monitor physical activity and various health data. "However, current applications are designed to increase activity," notes Cervia-Hasler. The two scientists therefore decided to develop their own application, which resulted in "MindfulPacer".
The innovative digital platform includes a smartwatch application and a companion app on the smartphone. The smartwatch continuously monitors the wearer's heart rate and step count and provides immediate feedback. The app visualizes the biometric data in an intuitive way. Based on this information, users can set personal limits, such as maximum heartbeats per minute or daily step count. These limits are linked to a warning system: a green display on the smartwatch indicates normal values, while orange and red indicate that the set limits are being approached or exceeded. In this case, the smartwatch vibrates and an alarm sounds. Users are also asked to note the event that triggered the alarm and their personal feelings in the app.
The app's alarm function helps users to reflect on their activities and gain a better awareness of their symptoms. By integrating the additional personal information into the data visualization, they understand their own limits better and can continuously adjust them. "MindfulPacer makes it easier for people with Long Covid to recognize patterns in heart rate and step count, which helps them to regulate their daily physical exertion. This gives them more control over their condition," summarizes Cervia-Hasler. Meyer-Baron adds: "MindfulPacer is a simple tool that guides you to help yourself."
The digital platform is currently still in the prototype phase and is being used by a handful of stakeholders. Based on their feedback, the UZH researchers have continuously developed MindfulPacer. They also worked closely with the patient organization Long Covid Switzerland to tailor the digital platform to the actual needs of patients. "Their feedback was extremely informative for us," emphasizes Meyer-Baron.
For him, the user-centered and iterative development of digital applications is routine, while for his colleague it is a new approach: "I normally work with large amounts of patient data: It was an enriching experience to focus on the perspective of a few people and continuously integrate their feedback," reflects Cervia-Hasler. Both agree that the mutual learning process was very fruitful. "It is very satisfying that we were able to develop something that helps patients immediately."
The consistently positive feedback from the first test subjects encourages the two young scientists to offer MindfulPacer to the general public. After receiving ethical approval, they want to evaluate the platform comprehensively in terms of its user-friendliness and effectiveness in practice. The release of a first public test version is planned at the same time. In addition, the researchers are working with Long Covid Switzerland to integrate an online forum into MindfulPacer so that users can share their experiences.
To finance these next steps, they have applied for an outreach call with the DIZH. When asked whether they want to commercialize their platform, the two wave it off: "Our main concern is to make a positive contribution for as many affected people as possible and to further develop Mindfulpacer together with them," says Meyer-Baron.
MindfulPacer is an innovative platform consisting of a smartwatch application and a companion app on the smartphone. It supports Long Covid sufferers with real-time feedback to monitor their stress limit. Three Master's students and a PhD student from the Institute of Computer Science were involved in the initial development of the prototype of this platform.
The UZH Postdoc Team Award was initiated in 2022 and presented for the second time this year. It honors interdisciplinary postdoc teams for outstanding and independent scientific achievement. The research should relate to current social issues. The award amounts to CHF 15,000 and is financed by a private donation to the President's Fund of the UZH Foundation.