Could THIS urine test save thousands of lives? Scientists develop simple way to spot deadly ‘lung attacks’ in patients with an incurable lung disease

EXCLUSIVE: The technology, known as Headstart, works like a pregnancy test
It is designed to be used by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
It alerts sufferers as to whether their shortness of breath is a deadly ‘lung attack’
By accurately detecting such cases, it may save NHS around £40 million a year

A simple urine test could save the lives of thousands of people suffering from an incurable lung disease, scientists claim.

The innovative technology works like a pregnancy test – but for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

It alerts sufferers as to whether their shortness of breath is a deadly ‘lung attack’ or just a normal part of their condition.

By accurately detecting such cases, Headstart will allow patients to seek the most effective treatment from doctors.

It will also prevent the over-prescribing of drugs to treat them and any unnecessary hospital admissions, experts claim.

Leicester University researchers, who were involved with the creation of the device, say it will save the NHS around £40 million a year.

The innovative Headstart technology, which screens for urine for biomarkers, works like a pregnancy test – but for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (stock)

Chris Brightling, a professor in respiratory medicine who was involved in testing it, told MailOnline that he believes it could ‘hugely improve lives’.

He said: ‘This simple urine test will help someone with COPD to determine whether the onset of more symptoms really is the beginning of a severe lung attack, or simply a variation in their background symptoms which will get better on their own.

‘This will help to make better treatment decisions and could hugely improve lives, especially as severe lung attacks can be devastating.

‘We believe the Headstart urine test shows real promise, particularly as it can be carried out by patients at home.

‘Making sure we treat patients early when needed but also stop unnecessary treatment will be of great benefit to patients and could save the NHS at least £40 million a year – greatly reducing the costs for an over-stretched NHS.’

The pioneering test, believed to be the first of its kind, uses a similar method to that of a pregnancy test, with patients urinating on a stick.

This then measures levels of biomarkers when it is put into the main part of the device, with this data being stored.

It is then transmitted to the patient’s doctor, allowing them to see if a lung attack is likely to occur or not.

It alerts sufferers as to whether their shortness of breath is a deadly ‘lung attack’ or just a normal part of their condition

They can then assess the situation and ask them to come straight to hospital, or if there symptoms will ease naturally.

Able to be carried out at home, the simple test has already passed the first stage of the development process.

Experts are adamant that it could be adopted for widespread use by the NHS within the next five years.

The researchers worked with Bedford-based company Mologic and its co-founder Professor Paul Davis, who was behind the original Clear Blue pregnancy test.

‘THE TESTING KIT IS A BENEFIT’

Former-smoker Martin Chesney, from Leicester, was diagnosed with COPD in 2012 and usually suffers two lung attacks a year.

The 63-year-old, who tested the kit for 30 days, said: ‘The testing kit is a benefit no-end as you are able to predict a possible attack, which allows you to take medicine before it becomes nasty.

‘On average I have two attacks a year, the length of which varies, but is at least four weeks.

‘When I have an attack it’s dreadful, I develop a really bad cough and can black-out from coughing.

‘I can’t lie down to sleep and I often resort to sleeping downstairs in an armchair for as long as it lasts. It is very life-limiting.’

Professor Davis told MailOnline: ‘We accepted the challenge of coming up with a new way to help COPD patients understand, monitor and control what’s going on in their vulnerable lungs.

‘Our response to the challenge was to develop a simple, low-cost test which worked in a similar way to a pregnancy test, only this one can predict impending lung problems.

‘The test is simple enough for patients to use themselves at home, so this puts them at the centre of their own care, empowering them to take control.

‘There’s a valuable, clear but encoded message written in the substances, which we call biomarkers, when they are excreted into the urine through the kidneys.

‘You just need to know what to look for and how to interpret the message into plain language.’

COPD, caused mainly by smoking, makes it harder for sufferers to breathe because of narrowing airways and damage to their lungs.

They are prone to lung attacks which can mean their symptoms worsen and lead to hospitalisation and even death.

In Britain, three million people are living with COPD and each year the condition causes 115,000 emergency admissions to hospital and 24,000 deaths.

Symptoms often don’t appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time, particularly if smoking exposure continues.