After 3 weeks of daily use, the Aerobika Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) device from Monaghan Medical provided statistically significant outcomes in patients with COPD and Bronchiectasis, according to a study by the Robarts Research Institute (Western University, London, ON).
The Aerobika OPEP device is a drug-free, hand-held device with a proprietary pressure-oscillation dynamic that provides intermittent resistance and creates positive pressure and oscillations simultaneously, which mobilizes and assists mucociliary clearance to the upper airways where it can be coughed out, according to Monaghan.
Patients’ improvements included increased mucus clearance, decreased cough frequency and breathlessness, and enhanced exercise tolerance. Additionally, the study revealed that patients reported an overall improvement in quality of life, without any adverse events reported while using the device.
The study evaluated patients’ on Pulmonary Function Test, Six Minute Walk Test, the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Patient Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) and Hyperpolarized Helium-3 Magnetic Resonance Lung Imaging (3He MRI).
Patients suffering from COPD commonly exhibit excessive mucus resulting in breathlessness as a primary symptom. When mucus is not cleared from the lungs, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and infections, often leading to exacerbations, hospitalizations and even death. In 2010, the cost of COPD in the United States was projected to be $50 Billion, with hospitalization accounting for the majority of these costs.
“The results from the Robarts study provide compelling evidence that patients suffering from COPD, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) or Bronchiectasis can now have an improved quality of life and a safe and easy-to-use method to address the unmet need of mucus clearance and potentially reduce the need for hospitalization,” states Dominic Coppolo, Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Monaghan Medical Corporation.
