Cough monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examined the utility of an algorithm for use with the Vitalograph VitaloJAK cough monitor, using only single channel processing based on data from the chest wall contact microphone for cough detection and removal of non-cough sounds (as opposed to dual channel processing using the chest wall contact microphone and the free-field lapel microphone). The study was conducted in 60 patients with refractory chronic cough in response to the finding that wearing face masks/coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic distorts sounds from the lapel microphone, but not the contact sensor.