AI-Enabled COPD Programme Aims to Improve Diagnosis Across NHS Community Services

Key Points

• Chiesi UK and Ireland has launched the COPD Spirometry Management Supported by AI in a Community Setting (COSMIC) programme to support the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• The initiative will provide NHS primary and community care organisations with access to ArtiQ.Spiro, an AI-enabled spirometry decision-support solution developed by healthcare research and technology company Clario.
• The programme aims to strengthen diagnostic capacity, improve access to spirometry testing and support more timely identification of COPD.
• ArtiQ.Spiro assesses spirometry test quality, provides guideline-aligned interpretation and generates disease probability outputs to assist healthcare professionals in their clinical judgement.
• An estimated two million people in the UK are living with COPD without a diagnosis, highlighting a substantial gap in respiratory care.
• Workforce shortages, limited numbers of accredited clinicians, difficulties interpreting test results and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect spirometry services.
• Chiesi UK and Ireland says the initiative could help address inequalities in respiratory health, particularly among communities experiencing greater socioeconomic deprivation.
• Respiratory clinical lead Claire Adams of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board has highlighted the potential for AI-supported spirometry to reduce backlogs and improve clinicians’ confidence in diagnostic decisions.
• The development follows a separate initiative reported by Digital Health in October 2026, in which six primary care networks in North West London launched an AI-supported programme to help people with COPD manage their condition at home.

Ireland Now News (INN) October 6, 2026 – Chiesi UK and Ireland has announced a new programme aimed at improving the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by expanding NHS primary and community care organisations’ access to artificial intelligence-enabled spirometry software. The COPD Spirometry Management Supported by AI in a Community Setting (COSMIC) programme will provide access to ArtiQ.Spiro, developed by healthcare research and technology company Clario, through collaborative working projects and donations. The initiative is intended to strengthen diagnostic capacity, address workforce challenges and help patients receive timely assessments for a condition that remains significantly underdiagnosed across the UK.

What is the COSMIC programme and how will it support COPD diagnosis?

The COSMIC programme is designed to improve access to spirometry, the lung-function test used to support the diagnosis of COPD. It brings together Chiesi UK and Ireland’s respiratory expertise and Clario’s AI-enabled diagnostic support technology, with the aim of helping NHS primary and community care organisations improve the availability and quality of respiratory assessments.

According to Chiesi UK and Ireland’s announcement dated October 6, 2026, the programme will provide NHS organisations with access to ArtiQ.Spiro through collaborative working projects and donations. Its principal objective is to increase the capacity of healthcare professionals to conduct and interpret spirometry tests, particularly in settings where limited staffing and expertise have restricted access.

The initiative addresses a longstanding challenge in respiratory care: patients may experience symptoms associated with COPD but remain undiagnosed because access to appropriate testing is limited or clinical assessment is delayed.

The announcement does not specify the total number of NHS organisations expected to participate, the number of patients who could benefit, or a completion date for the programme. Those details would be needed to establish the initiative’s eventual reach.

How does ArtiQ.Spiro use artificial intelligence in spirometry?

ArtiQ.Spiro is a decision-support solution intended to help healthcare professionals assess spirometry results and make informed clinical decisions.

The software provides three principal functions:

• Test-quality assessment: It evaluates the quality of spirometry readings and can prompt healthcare professionals to repeat a test when the results are inadequate, allowing potential problems to be addressed while the patient is still present.
• Guideline-aligned interpretation: It provides an interpretation of spirometry results in accordance with relevant clinical guidance.
• Disease probability outputs: It offers information intended to help clinicians assess the likelihood of a respiratory condition and support their clinical judgement.

Chiesi’s announcement states that the software can deliver guideline-aligned interpretation within seconds. Its intended role is to support the healthcare professional carrying out the assessment, rather than remove the need for clinical judgement.

The quality of the initial test remains important. If a patient cannot perform the breathing manoeuvre correctly, the resulting measurements may be insufficient for reliable interpretation. By helping clinicians identify inadequate readings, decision-support software may assist them in determining when further testing is required.

However, AI-generated interpretations and probability outputs should not be treated as a diagnosis in isolation. COPD assessment requires appropriate clinical evaluation, and the findings must be considered alongside the patient’s symptoms, medical history and other relevant information.

The programme’s announcement does not establish that the software will independently diagnose COPD or that its introduction will automatically improve diagnostic outcomes across every participating service. Those questions require evidence from implementation and clinical evaluation.

Why is COPD underdiagnosis a concern for the NHS?

COPD is a long-term respiratory condition associated with airflow obstruction and breathing difficulties. Symptoms can include persistent breathlessness, a chronic cough and reduced ability to undertake everyday activities.

The condition can become more difficult to manage as it progresses, particularly when patients do not receive appropriate assessment and treatment in a timely manner.

Chiesi UK and Ireland estimates that approximately two million people in the UK are living with COPD without a formal diagnosis. The figure highlights the difference between the number of people believed to have the condition and the number identified through healthcare services.

The exact number of undiagnosed cases remains uncertain, and estimates vary between sources and methodologies. Nevertheless, under-recognition is an established concern in UK respiratory care.

The House of Commons Library’s briefing on support for people with COPD, published in November 2025, noted that NHS data recorded more than 1.17 million people with COPD in England during 2023–24. It also discussed the substantial uncertainty surrounding estimates of undiagnosed disease.

Delayed identification can mean that people miss opportunities to receive appropriate treatment, smoking-cessation support where relevant, pulmonary rehabilitation and advice on managing their condition. Patients may first receive a diagnosis after their symptoms have deteriorated sufficiently to require hospital treatment.

According to the information accompanying the COSMIC announcement, COPD is the UK’s second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions. The burden on urgent and emergency care makes the availability of effective community-based assessment particularly relevant.

Improving diagnosis alone will not resolve every challenge associated with COPD. Patients must also be able to access appropriate follow-up care, treatment and support after their condition has been identified.

What challenges are affecting NHS spirometry services?

The COSMIC programme has been introduced against a background of workforce pressures and disruptions to respiratory services.

Spirometry requires suitable equipment, appropriate training and the ability to obtain technically acceptable results. Healthcare professionals must also understand how to interpret those results and determine whether further investigation is necessary.

Chiesi’s announcement identifies several obstacles affecting access to the test:

• Shortages and pressures within the healthcare workforce.
• The need for appropriately trained and accredited clinicians.
• Difficulties performing spirometry to an acceptable standard.
• Limited confidence in interpreting test results.
• Disruption to services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restoration of capacity.

Claire Adams, respiratory clinical lead at North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said spirometry services had been significantly disrupted during the pandemic and that many areas were still working to restore capacity.

Adams also highlighted the limited availability of accredited clinicians and low confidence in interpreting test results as factors contributing to the COPD diagnosis gap.

She said faster access to ArtiQ.Spiro had the potential to help reduce backlogs, reach more patients and give healthcare professionals greater confidence in their clinical decision-making.

Her comments identify a practical objective for the programme: improving the ability of existing services to conduct and interpret respiratory tests, rather than relying exclusively on expanding the number of specialist staff.

Whether the software can achieve that objective will depend on how it is implemented, the training available to staff, the quality of the tests performed and the extent to which participating organisations can integrate the technology into existing clinical pathways.

How could the programme address inequalities in respiratory health?

The burden of COPD is not distributed evenly across the population. Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with higher prevalence, poorer patient outcomes and increased mortality.

This means that improving access to diagnosis may be particularly important in communities where respiratory illness and barriers to healthcare are more pronounced.

Shish Patel, senior director of medical affairs at Chiesi UK, said the collaboration between the company’s respiratory expertise and AI-enabled diagnostic technology could help improve how COPD is identified, particularly in communities with the greatest unmet need.

Patel also said the company’s ambition was to support NHS primary and community care organisations in diagnosing patients earlier, enabling timely intervention and better outcomes.

The programme’s stated objective includes addressing inequalities that contribute to differences in health outcomes between communities. However, the announcement does not provide a detailed geographical rollout plan or identify specific communities that will receive the technology first.

For the initiative to reduce inequalities, access would need to improve in areas where diagnostic services are currently difficult to obtain. A programme that mainly benefits organisations already equipped with sufficient staffing and diagnostic infrastructure could have a more limited effect on the communities facing the greatest barriers.

Evaluation of the programme would therefore need to consider not only the number of tests performed but also who receives them, how quickly patients are assessed and whether access improves across different socioeconomic groups.

What role does clinical guidance play in AI-supported COPD diagnosis?

The introduction of AI-enabled software does not change the underlying importance of appropriate clinical assessment.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends spirometry to support COPD diagnosis and specifies that post-bronchodilator spirometry should be used to confirm the condition. Its guidance also states that healthcare professionals involved in COPD care should have access to spirometry and be competent in interpreting the results.

These requirements underline the need for technical quality, appropriate training and clinical oversight.

Chiesi’s October announcement states that NICE has issued guidance enabling NHS use of ArtiQ.Spiro during a three-year evidence-generation period. This is a relevant distinction: use during an evidence-generation period allows further information to be collected about the technology’s performance and practical application.

The existence of such a period should not be interpreted as proof that the software is suitable for every patient or that it will necessarily deliver the same results in all clinical settings.

Evidence gathered during implementation can help establish how the software performs in routine practice, whether its recommendations support clinical decisions and what additional training or safeguards may be required.

It can also help determine whether the technology improves access to testing without creating additional administrative demands or introducing new bottlenecks elsewhere in the diagnostic pathway.

How does COSMIC compare with other AI-supported COPD initiatives?

The COSMIC programme is part of a wider pattern of NHS organisations exploring digital technology to support different stages of respiratory care. A separate initiative in North West London focuses on helping patients manage diagnosed COPD between clinical appointments.

In a September 29, 2026, announcement, Aide Health reported that its AI-supported application would be introduced across six primary care networks in North West London. The programme was also covered by Imperial College Health Partners on October 8, 2026.

The six participating networks are:

• Celandine Health and MetroCare PCN.
• North Connect PCN.
• NeoHealth PCN.
• Regent St John’s Wood and Maida Vale PCN.
• Westminster Living Well PCN.

The six-month initiative is designed to provide patients with support between appointments, including medication reminders, symptom tracking and information about their condition. Clinical teams can use the information to identify people who may require additional support.

According to Aide Health, the programme is funded by NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board through the national Respiratory Pathway Transformation Fund, with support from Imperial College Health Partners.

The two initiatives have different primary purposes. COSMIC focuses on supporting spirometry and the identification of COPD, while the North West London programme focuses on self-management among people already receiving COPD care.

The distinction is important because diagnosis and ongoing disease management address different needs. Better access to testing can help identify patients who have not yet been diagnosed, while digital self-management tools can help people with an established diagnosis monitor symptoms and follow their treatment plans.

Neither initiative should be treated as evidence that the other has achieved its intended outcomes. Their effectiveness will need to be assessed against their respective objectives.

What information is needed to assess the programme’s effectiveness?

The COSMIC announcement establishes the programme’s purpose and explains how NHS organisations will gain access to the software. It does not yet provide outcome data demonstrating how much the initiative will reduce underdiagnosis.

Several measures could help assess its progress once implementation evidence becomes available.

These include the number of NHS organisations using the software, the number of healthcare professionals supported, the volume and quality of spirometry tests performed, and the time patients wait for assessment.

Further evaluation could examine whether the technology reduces the number of inadequate tests, supports more consistent interpretation and increases the proportion of patients receiving an appropriate diagnostic assessment.

It would also be important to monitor the effect on clinical workload. Software may help clinicians complete some tasks more efficiently, but the overall benefit will depend on how it fits into existing workflows and whether additional testing or follow-up requirements arise.

Patient outcomes and equitable access will be equally important. Increased testing activity does not necessarily mean that more people receive a correct diagnosis or better treatment.

A robust assessment would therefore need to examine diagnostic accuracy, appropriate clinical follow-up and differences in access between communities, alongside operational measures such as waiting times and staff capacity.

The announcement does not yet supply these results. The extent to which COSMIC changes the delivery of respiratory care will become clearer as the programme develops and evidence becomes available.

Background: Why is the NHS exploring AI-supported respiratory care?

COPD places long-term demands on patients, primary care teams, respiratory specialists and hospitals. Its symptoms can affect mobility, independence and quality of life, while acute exacerbations can require urgent medical attention.

Early and accurate identification can help patients access appropriate treatment and ongoing support. However, identifying people who may have COPD is only one part of the process: healthcare services must also have the capacity to perform suitable tests, interpret the findings and arrange the next steps in care.

NICE’s COPD guidance provides the clinical framework for diagnosis and management, including the role of spirometry and the importance of staff competence.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many healthcare services, including respiratory testing. The difficulties described by Adams indicate that restoring capacity has remained a challenge in some areas.

AI-supported tools are being explored as one way to help clinicians manage technical and interpretative tasks. COSMIC represents an effort to make such support available to NHS primary and community care organisations, while the North West London programme demonstrates a separate approach focused on digital support for patients between appointments.

Both initiatives reflect the use of technology at different points in the respiratory care pathway. Their long-term value will depend on clinical performance, implementation, patient access and evidence of measurable benefits.