Royal Philips has released preliminary results of an independent, multi-center Home Oxygen Therapy – Home Mechanical Ventilation (HOT-HMV) study carried out by respiratory experts at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.  The Philips-sponsored study researched the benefits of home noninvasive ventilation (NIV), referred to as HMV in the study, for patients with COPD.

Initial results from this study, which will be presented today at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress, reveal that patients using HOT with HMV are half as likely to be readmitted to the hospital. The HOT-HMV study used a randomized controlled trial that compared the use of HMV and HOT therapies with HOT alone in 116 patients with persistent hypercapnia.

“Our goal with this study was to find a way to provide COPD patients with oxygen therapy, as well as home ventilators,  in an effort to lower the number of patients being readmitted to hospitals,” said Dr Nicholas Hart, professor and clinical and academic director of Lane Fox Respiratory Unit, St Thomas’ Hospital. “The results of the HOT-HMV study have the ability to change the way that COPD patients are treated worldwide. We’re looking forward to continuing the trial over the next five years to monitor survival rates, which we hope will rise, and readmission rates, which will hopefully fall.”

“Managing COPD is more than simply providing patients with respiratory devices, which is why Philips continues to innovate and advance NIV therapies in the hospital and home. It’s about providing support across the entire continuum of care, and Philips is uniquely positioned to make this a reality.” said Eli Diacopoulos, Business Leader, Home Respiratory Care, Philips.

More updates on Philips’ presence at ERS 2016 are available here.