Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus, a leading global medtech company providing innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, announced today it applauds the new Obesity Bill of Rights . Continue Reading Olympus applauds the newly launched Obesity Bill of Rights and will support the initiative by working to build awareness and talking to its healthcare customers about this important campaign to counter bias and ageism in obesity care. Olympus will support the initiative by working to build awareness and talking to its healthcare customers about this important campaign to counter bias and ageism in obesity care. The program, spearheaded in January 2024 in the U.S. by the National Consumers League (NCL), a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, in conjunction with the National Council on Aging (NCOA), establishes a set of rights to "assure screening, diagnosis, counseling and effective treatment based on medical treatment guidelines." This ongoing effort to gather support is expected to culminate in a fully implemented Bill of Rights by Dec. 31, 2029. The NCL and NCOA are working at the grassroots, employer, state and federal levels on this effort to ensure equal access to care for all obesity patients. NCL and NCOA worked with health leaders and obesity specialists to draft these Bill of Rights tenets that are intended to change the narrative, such that the healthcare industry more effectively sees obesity as a treatable chronic disease that can be treated with the same "respect, attention and medical care" as other chronic conditions. Statistics regarding obesity are staggering: 108M people in the U.S. are considered obese, only 10% of whom get help from medical professionals and only 2% of whom are treated with new medications. More than 230 conditions are worsened by obesity. Obesity is connected to $1.73 trillion in annual medical costs in the U.S. 400K premature deaths annually are linked to obesity.1 "Olympus provides equipment to the surgical community that helps in the treatment of obesity, and statistics show that not enough people have access to this type of treatment," said Paul Skodny, Executive Director for Health Economics and Market Access at Olympus Corporation. "It is our hope that awareness of treatment options and equitable access and insurance coverage will help address the detrimental health impacts of obesity." Bariatric Surgery as a Solution for Weight Loss Because of recent pharmaceuticals' entry into the market, such as semaglutide-based medications, obesity treatment has been receiving more attention. Surgical treatment which can complement medical management, has a lengthy track record, having been available to patients for decades with favorable long-term outcomes.2 Studies show patients typically lose the most weight one to two years after bariatric surgery and see substantial improvements in obesity-related conditions. Despite the growing number of obesity-related health problems, fewer than 2% of those eligible for bariatric surgery elect to have it.3 Given these statistics, Olympus, maker of technologies for performing minimally invasive bariatric procedures, sought to understand the awareness level and concerns of eligible patients in a survey conducted in 20194: Marginal Awareness around Benefits: A little more than 50% of respondents demonstrated only marginal awareness that bariatric surgery causes hormonal changes that improve weight loss by maintaining or enhancing energy expenditure.5 Worry about Gaining Weight Back: 20% of respondents were avoiding bariatric surgery because of concerns about surgery complications and gaining the weight back. Awareness around Insurance Opportunities: 56% of respondents were aware that insurance covers bariatric surgery in most qualified cases.6 Surgical benefits are real and should be known to more patients. Studies show that: Patients may lose as much as 60% of excess weight six months after surgery, and 77% of excess weight as early as 12 months after surgery. On average, five years after surgery, patients maintain 50% of their excess weight loss.1 The majority of bariatric surgery patients with diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea experience remission of these obesity-related diseases.1 Statistically, the risk of death during weight-loss surgery procedures is less than 1 percent. All abdominal operations carry the risks of bleeding, infection in the incision, thrombophlebitis of legs (blood clots), lung problems (pneumonia, pulmonary embolisms), strokes or heart attacks, anesthetic complications and blockage or obstruction of the intestine. These risks are greater in patients with severe obesity.7 To learn more about Olympus' state-of-the-art technologies for performing minimally invasive bariatric surgeries, visit the Bariatrics product page. About Olympus At Olympus, we are committed to our purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals striving to provide best-in-class solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com. _______________________________ 1 Americans now have an Obesity Bill of Rights. NCLnet.org. . Published January 31, 2024. Accessed February 29, 2024. 2 Story of Obesity Surgery. asmbs.org. . Published 2023. Accessed February 29, 2024. 3 . February 27, 2020. Accessed February 29, 2024. 4 The Olympus-commissioned online survey was conducted mid-December 2019. 5 Public Education Committee. Benefits of Bariatric Surgery: ASMBS. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. . Accessed February 29, 2024. 6 Manning S. How to get your health insurer to pay for your weight-loss surgery. Insure.com. . Published September 24, 2020. Accessed February 29, 2024. 7 Available Procedures. Yale New Haven Health. . Accessed March 15, 2024. SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas

Are sleeping pills the only solution for insomnia? Not according to a researcher who says that using self-guided digital behavioral therapy is an alternative solution that should be considered. Are sleeping pills the only solution for insomnia? Not according to Flinders University's Dr Alexander Sweetman, who says that using self-guided digital behavioural therapy is an alternative solution that should be considered. Despite a wealth of evidence supporting the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi), access to this 'first line' treatment is extremely limited due to a shortage of CBTi trained psychologists. In Australia, approximately 90 per cent of primary care patients with insomnia are managed with sleeping pills while only 1 per cent are referred to psychologists for CBTi. To increase accessibility to CBTi and reduce the reliance on sleeping pills, sleep experts at Flinders University and the University of Western Australia designed and tested the effectiveness of a self-guided digital CBTi program called 'Bedtime Window' to treat insomnia. "We tested a new CBTi program in people with insomnia symptoms throughout Australia and found it very easy to use, delivering significant and sustained improvements in sleep, daytime function and mental health," says Dr Alexander Sweetman, who led the latest research published today in Frontiers in Sleep. "We know that CBTi improves insomnia, mental health and quality of life and we want to see more people accessing this treatment because it can reduce the need for sleeping pills or other interventions which may not tackle long-term sleep problems," he says. Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are the two most prevalent sleep disorders and frequently co-occur. Approximately 30-40 per cent of people with insomnia have co-morbid OSA however most people with OSA remain undiagnosed and untreated. "People with co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnoea (COMISA) generally have worse sleep, daytime function, mental health, physical health, productivity and quality of life when compared to people with neither sleep disorder, and often when compared to people with either insomnia-alone or OSA-alone," says Dr Sweetman. "Recent studies found that people with COMISA experience a 50-70 per cent increased risk of mortality over 10-20 years of follow-up, compared to people with neither condition. "Given the high prevalence and adverse health risks of COMISA, it is vital that we develop and implement an effective evidence-based management approach for this condition," he says. "To increase CBTi access for people with COMISA, we developed the self-guided interactive digital CBTi program that is appropriate for people with insomnia-alone and COMISA and compared its effectiveness between people with insomnia-alone, versus comorbid insomnia and high-risk sleep apnoea." 62 adults with insomnia symptoms used 'Bedroom Window' over an 18-month period and reported significant and sustained improvements in symptoms of insomnia and associated mental health symptoms. "The program is designed for people with insomnia-alone and COMISA. Each weekly session lasts for approximately 20-30 minutes and includes short videos, images and text-based information," he says. "Treatment components include psychoeducation, stimulus control therapy, sleep restriction therapy, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy and sleep hygiene information. "The program includes algorithms that continuously assess for symptoms of sleepiness and alertness and provides tailored and interactive recommendations to treat insomnia without worsening levels of daytime sleepiness. "The positive results of our study highlight the potential to investigate the effectiveness, safety and acceptability of this digital CBTi program in people with a confirmed diagnosis of OSA, before increasing access to people with COMISA throughout the health system," adds Dr Sweetman.

BOSTON & LONDON--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Signifier Medical Technologies LLC (“Signifier” or the “Company”), a Boston-based medical technology company, announces that The International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care has recently published an exploratory analysis entitled " Cost-Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea ." The study led by Drs. Shan Liu, Jan Pietzsch, and a collaborative research team explores the cost-effectiveness of using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as a treatment option for patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Recent estimates suggest that 55 million adults in the United States suffer from OSA, with over half falling into the mild range. Patients with mild OSA often experience a diminished quality of life compared to controls, and epidemiological analyses reveal increased risks of hypertension, diabetes, and abnormal fasting glucose among them. Despite the prevalence of OSA, the current standard of care, positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, faces challenges such as low adherence and patient satisfaction, which creates a demand for alternative OSA treatment options. The researchers in this study used a decision-analytic model to assess the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of neuromuscular electrical stimulation compared to no treatment and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The analysis, conducted from the US healthcare system perspective, considered both direct medical costs and health outcomes measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The results of the exploratory analysis indicated that neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be a cost-effective treatment option for mild OSA compared to no treatment. Furthermore, it showed that neuromuscular electrical stimulation, depending on long-term adherence, may be preferred over CPAP therapy, suggesting that this alternative treatment approach could provide a valuable and more accessible option for individuals with mild OSA. " We are excited to see the results of this study reinforce the potential of neuromuscular electrical stimulation as a revolutionary treatment option for individuals with mild obstructive sleep apnea," states Mujtaba Chohan, Head of Finance & Chief of Staff at Signifier. While CPAP therapy has been the standard treatment for moderate to severe OSA, it has long been plagued with low adherence and low patient satisfaction. With over 14,000 patients being prescribed eXciteOSA, and real-world data demonstrating strong adherence of patients using therapy over 80% of days, this simple, non-invasive NMES therapy allows patients to complete a session for just 20 minutes during the day, offering them the freedom to breathe naturally, all night long, on their own. Senior author Dr. Jan B. Pietzsch, who directed the study, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, " Our research provides important insights into the potential cost-effectiveness of using neuromuscular electrical stimulation for individuals with mild obstructive sleep apnea that are relevant for patients, clinicians, and healthcare payers.” This study contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals with sleep apnea by exploring innovative and more accessible treatment alternatives. As researchers continue to explore the cost-effectiveness of various treatments, patients and clinicians will benefit from a wider range of evidence-based options for managing obstructive sleep apnea. About Signifier Medical Technologies Signifier is a pioneer in addressing the root causes of sleep-disordered breathing. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing innovative and non-invasive solutions to help people breathe normally and naturally all night – without needing to use a wearable medical device or a surgical implant. Founded in 2015, Signifier is at the forefront of sleep therapy, with a mission to develop therapies to improve population health, increase the quality of patients’ healthcare experience, and generate healthcare savings. Signifier has offices in London (UK) and Needham (Massachusetts, USA). About eXciteOSA ® eXciteOSA is a revolutionary daytime therapy for sleep-disordered breathing. Clinically proven to target a common root cause of OSA, eXciteOSA uses NMES to “exercise” the upper airway muscles, working the intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles to improve endurance and prevent airway collapse during sleep. Unlike other devices that are used while patients sleep, eXciteOSA is the first commercially available device used while awake. Signifier is dedicated to engaging with the sleep research community to produce high-quality evidence from rigorous clinical trials. To learn more about eXciteOSA, please visit www.signifiermedical.com or www.exciteosa.com .