Wearable ventilation device increases endurance in patients with chronic respiratory disease

Use of a non-invasive open ventilation system in pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improved mean exercise duration by approximately 63% in patients with chronic respiratory disease, according to study results presented at COPD9_USA.

Joanne Scasserra, BA, CRT, RPTF, of the department of respiratory care at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey, and colleagues conducted a retrospective case series on exercise endurance in 16 adults with chronic respiratory disease to evaluate the effect of a wearable non-invasive open ventilation system.

“It is well established that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs have been conclusively linked to positive clinical outcomes in dyspnea reduction, increased exercise capacity and reductions in hospitalization, but improvements in physical activity are currently limited by lack of solutions that can be utilized to promote PR programs with clinical facilities and at home,” Scasserra said in a press release.

The researchers assigned seven participants with moderate to very severe chronic lung disease to use non-invasive open ventilation (Breathe Technologies) during exercise. The remaining nine participants with moderate to severe disease acted as the control and used standard oxygen during exercise.

At the end of 36 PR visits, participants using the non-invasive open ventilation system experienced a higher mean change in exercise time (24.3 minutes) compared with the control group (15.2 minutes).

Participants receiving the treatment had a higher absolute exercise time (42.3 minutes) compared with the control group (37.8 minutes).

Scasserra, in the release, said the results of the study may benefit patients with chronic respiratory disease in their everyday lives.

“We believe that this technology has the potential to improve current paradigm of respiratory care, through improved exercise outcomes, increased ambulation and empowerment for patients to more fully engage in daily activities,” she said. – by Ryan McDonald

Reference:

Scasserra J, et al. Poster 139. Presented at: COPD9USA; June 5-6, 2015; Chicago.

Disclosure: Scasserra reports no relevant financial disclosures.