Tag: COPD

SAN DIEGO – More than 480 million people worldwide likely suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, according to a new abstract led by ResMed and presented on Sept. 4 at the European Respiratory Society Congress. This figure is 22% to 126% higher than today’s most cited estimates of 212 million to 392 million. “This number should be a warning,” said study co-author and ResMed Chief Medical Officer Carlos M. Nunez, M.D. “It should urge doctors to be more...

YARMOUTH, Maine - At-home interventions by a respiratory therapist can reduce hospital readmission rates among patients with COPD, according to a new study published in Respiratory Care. Study authors looked at outcomes in patients enrolled in a respiratory therapist-led COPD Disease Management Program, comparing outcomes of 658 patients who were discharged from five hospitals in the Atlantic Health System with outcomes of 435 patients who were discharged and then enrolled in the management program....

SAN DIEGO – ResMed has made a minority investment in Lenus Health, an Edinburgh, Scotland-based health-tech startup that specializes in improving outcomes and lowering costs for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the Scottish Business Times. “Lenus Health’s achievements underscore the power of digital health to improve people’s lives, delivering care closer to home while also significantly reducing health care costs for whole systems,” said...

MINNEAPOLIS – Tactile Medical has acquired the assets of the AffloVest respiratory therapy business from International Biophysics Corp., a privately held company that developed and manufactures the portable, wearable vest.  AffloVest is used to treat patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD-associated breathing conditions like bronchiectasis, or conditions resulting from neuromuscular disorders and cystic fibrosis, by managing airway clearance.  “The addition...

LAFAYETTE, La. – Patients with COPD and CRF who were prescribed noninvasive ventilation at home had statistically significant reductions in risk of death (38.3%), hospitalizations (21.0%) and ED visits (42.9%) compared with similar patients not treated with NIVH, according to a new study from Viemed Healthcare. The study, which was published Sept. 15 in the online edition of The American Journal of Managed Care, also shows NIVH is associated with a one-year risk difference of 13% for mortality,...

LAFAYETTE, La. – Viemed Healthcare has published a study that shows non-invasive ventilation at home improves survival and decreases health care utilization in Medicare beneficiaries with COPD with chronic respiratory failure.  “This study is the first of its kind published in the U.S. and represents a significant milestone in our mission of educating the medical community on the benefits of NIVH,” said Casey Hoyt, Viemed CEO. “The data supports...

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for the COPD community, but it has also increased awareness of the condition and pushed patients to pursue alternative care options, according to the first ever World COPD Day survey by Royal Philips. “Despite impacting millions of people around the world, COPD isn't talked about as often as other chronic conditions like heart disease,” said Huiling Zhang, head of medical office for connected care at Philips....

WASHINGTON - The Council for Quality Respiratory Care recognizes November as National COPD Awareness Month by commending CMS for its plans not to award competitive bidding contracts to 13 product categories, including oxygen supplies and equipment, in 2021. If finalized, the proposal would ensure that patients will be able to continue accessing oxygen supplies and equipment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the CQRC says. “We applaud CMS for properly addressing policies that could have threatened...

WASHINGTON - CMS on July 22 will conduct a virtual Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee meeting to review the evidence specific to the home use of non-invasive ventilators by patients with chronic respiratory failure consequent to COPD. The agency seeks the committee's recommendations on the characteristics that define patient selection and usage criteria, and concomitant services, as well as the equipment parameters necessary to best achieve positive patient health outcomes...

SAN DIEGO - ResMed and the ATS Foundation have awarded their third $100,000 research fellowship grant to Claude Farah, PhD, of the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, to study how remote monitoring can help improve the management of COPD patients. The aim of the study: to detect early changes in lung function from daily recordings and notify patients when to commence more intensive treatment or seek medical attention. In his application for the grant, Farah predicts, “This...