Tag: Sleep Apnea

YARMOUTH, Maine – Sleep disorders are associated with significantly higher rates of health care utilization and expenditures, according to a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine on Oct. 1. Using a conservative prevalence estimate found in the study, the authors found the overall incremental health care costs of sleep disorders in the United States represents about $94.9 billion. Adults with sleep disorders were found to have increased utilization of office visits,...

PHOENIX – OptiPillows has launched a new website, www.optipillows.com, that features information about its namesake product and studies about expiratory positive airway pressure therapy. Visitors to the site can also connect with industry partners, watch videos and hear user testimonials about the efficacy of OptiPillows. OptiPillows use EPAP to prevent the collapse of the upper airways by maintaining a positive expiratory pressure during expiration.

CHELMSFORD, Mass., and CAESAREA, Israel – ZOLL Medical Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of Itamar Medical for about $538 million.  Itamar Medical is focused on the development and commercialization of non-invasive medical devices and solutions to aid in the diagnosis of respiratory disorders, including the WatchPAT Home Sleep Apnea Device.  “It is currently estimated that 60% of cardiovascular patients suffer from some...

LYON, France – Using PAP therapy can significantly increase sleep apnea patients’ chances of living longer, according to an abstract presented this week at the virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021 and supported by ResMed.  The landmark ALASKA study, “CPAP Termination and All-Cause Mortality: a French Nationwide Database Analysis,” concluded people with obstructive sleep apnea who continued PAP therapy were 39% more likely to survive...

DARIEN, Ill. – The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is launching a new accreditation application type to simplify the accreditation process for multi-site health systems. Sleep medicine practices and facilities that are under the same ownership or legal entity and operate under the same policies and procedures can create an Accreditation Network to streamline and coordinate multiple accredited programs. “It can be complicated to manage multiple accreditations when health care entities...

CAESAREA, Israel – Itamar Medical has enhanced its WatchPAT product line to include WatchPAT with SleepPath, a new service that allows subjective data to be collected from patients through the WatchPAT smartphone app, before and after the home sleep test. The company will offer the new service to sleep clinics, giving them access to digital documentation in one report that combines sleep study metrics and patient self-reported data, replacing traditional paper documentation. Itamar Medical...

WASHINGTON – Providers say a recent draft report on the effectiveness of CPAP is questionable, but they worry it could still impact everything from patient confidence in the therapy to adequate access and payment for equipment and services.  The report, released in April by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, states that published studies show little evidence of long-term benefits of CPAP therapy on cardiovascular and other health outcomes.   “I think...

DARIEN, Ill. – Nearly 70% of Americans who sleep with a bed partner report those partners snore while sleeping, according to a 2021 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).   Snoring can be an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea and AASM is asking Americans to consider, “Is it more than a snore?”  “While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is a warning sign that should be taken seriously,” said Dr. Kannan Ramar, AASM president....

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Mintal, a lifestyle and wellness brand, has launched two sleep apps, Mintal Sleep and Mintal Tracker, to address sleep disorders, anxiety and mental health concerns. Mintal Tracker judges whether there is an airflow obstruction by analyzing the acoustic characteristics of snoring sounds, while accounting for environmental noise. Mintal Sleep contains a library of free sleep-inducing audio; breathing exercises for mindfulness and relaxation; sleep...

SAN DIEGO – A joint venture between ResMed and Verily to study the health and financial impacts of undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea has been renamed Primasun.  ResMed and Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet, first joined forces in 2018.  “We need a full night’s sleep right alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise for a strong immune system, the most energy, our best mood – in essence, to be our best selves,” said Primasun CEO Jonathon...