Wheeze sound analysis using computer-based techniques: a systematic review

Abstract

Wheezes are high pitched continuous respiratory acoustic sounds which are produced as a result of airway obstruction. Computer-based analyses of wheeze signals have been extensively used for parametric analysis, spectral analysis, identification of airway obstruction, feature extraction and diseases or pathology classification. While this area is currently an active field of research, the available literature has not yet been reviewed. This systematic review identified articles describing wheeze analyses using computer-based techniques on the SCOPUS, IEEE Xplore, ACM, PubMed and Springer and Elsevier electronic databases. After a set of selection criteria was applied, 41 articles were selected for detailed analysis. The findings reveal that 1) computerized wheeze analysis can be used for the identification of disease severity level or pathology, 2) further research is required to achieve acceptable rates of identification on the degree of airway obstruction with normal breathing, 3) analysis using combinations of features and on subgroups of the respiratory cycle has provided a pathway to classify various diseases or pathology that stem from airway obstruction.

Developing an Asthma Attack Alert System by Signal Processing of Breathing Sounds

“…Computerized wheeze analysis presents an active domain that covers a broad frequency range compared to frequencies detectable via stethoscope auscultation by physicians [17]. Researchers have extensively investigated subjects such as the use of logic-based algorithms for wheeze identification, employing machine learning techniques for wheeze classification, exploring the relationship between respiratory sound spectra and airway obstruction, and studying the characteristics of wheezing sounds.…”

“…Researchers have extensively investigated subjects such as the use of logic-based algorithms for wheeze identification, employing machine learning techniques for wheeze classification, exploring the relationship between respiratory sound spectra and airway obstruction, and studying the characteristics of wheezing sounds. Recent research investigations highlight the prioritization of identifying or classifying distinct sounds like intermittent or continuous wheezes in computer-aided respiratory sound analysis [17]- [20].…”

Contact and Remote Breathing Rate Monitoring Techniques: A Review

“…a laptop, mobile phone, or internet servers. The use of acoustic devices varies from only coughing and breathing frequency detection to full wheeze detection and analysis [15] , [16] . Many devices combine the use of acoustic breathing pattern with the chest displacement pattern to enhance accuracy [15] , [17] .…”