News | Heart Failure | September 02, 2016

Implantable Device Improved Central Sleep Apnea, Reduces Heart Failure Complications

Respicardia, Remede, pacemaker for sleep apnea, central sleep apnea treatment

September 2, 2016 — Results from an international, randomized study show that an implanted nerve stimulator significantly improves symptoms in those with central sleep apnea (CSA), without causing serious side effects. William Abraham, M.D., co-lead author and director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, presented findings from the study at the recent European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress in Rome. The study is published today by The Lancet.

Unlike the more common obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airway partially collapses and causes pauses in breathing, CSA occurs when the brain fails to control breathing during sleep. “CSA is a serious concern because it affects about a third of people with heart failure and it’s known to make the condition worse,” Abraham said. “Currently, we don’t have good treatments available. Positive airway pressure devices have been used, but many patients don’t tolerate them well and a recent study showed them to be harmful.”

The study used the Respicardia Remede System, which is a pacemaker-like device designed to improve cardiovascular health by restoring natural breathing during sleep in patients with central sleep apnea.

Watch a video on how the technology works and review a patient case.

Abraham, along with lead author Maria Rosa Costanzo, M.D., at Advocate Heart Institute in Naperville, Ill., led the study at 31 hospitals in the United States, Germany and Poland. The research team tested the safety and effectiveness of a transvenous phrenic nerve stimulator made by Respicardia Inc. Much like a pacemaker, it sends a regular signal telling the diaphragm to breathe during sleep.

In the randomized study, 151 patients were implanted with the device. Ten were excluded due to non-study related medical issues or deaths, exiting the study or missing visits. During the first six months of evaluation, 68 devices were activated for treatment, while 73 were left inactive as the control group. Between six and 12 months of follow-up, all patients received the neurostimulation treatment.

At the six month evaluation, the device reduced CSA events per hour by half or more for 35 of the 68 members (51 percent) of the treatment group. Only eight (11 percent) of those in the control group achieved the same reduction. Other important sleep measures, such as the amount of time spent with a low blood oxygen level, were also significantly improved. About a third of patients in the treatment group reported therapy-related discomfort that was resolved with some reprogramming of the device.

“Not only did we see this reduction in events per hour, the patients also rated themselves better on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (meaning they were less sleepy during the day) and on a global assessment of their overall quality of life,” Abraham said. “This tells us the effects of neurostimulation are clinically relevant and this could be a promising therapy for those with central sleep apnea.”

In addition to Abraham, Ohio State’s doctors Rami Khayat and Ralph Augostini participated in this research, making Ohio State one of the high enrolling centers participating in the study worldwide.

The study was funded by Respicardia. Abraham is a consultant for the company.

For more information: www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30961-8/fulltext

 

Reference: 

Maria Rosa Costanzo, Piotr Ponikowski, Shahrokh Javaheri, et al. “Transvenous neurostimulation for central sleep apnoea: a randomised controlled trial.” The Lancet. Volume 388, No. 10048, p974–982, 3 September 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30961-8


Related Content

News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

Aug. 15, 2024 — According to a new study being presented at ACC Asia 2024 in Delhi, India, drinking over 400 mg of ...

Home August 14, 2024
Home
Videos | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

As part of DAIC's continuing Thought Leadership Series, this month Editorial Director Melinda Taschetta-Millane sits ...

Home July 30, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

July 25, 2024 — BioCardia, Inc., a global leader in cellular and cell-derived therapeutics for the treatment of ...

Home July 25, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

July 18, 2024 — Elucid, a pioneering AI medical technology company providing physicians with imaging analysis software ...

Home July 18, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

July 10, 2024 — CellProthera, a private company specializing in cell-based therapies for repairing ischemic tissues, and ...

Home July 10, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

July 9, 2024 — Microbot Medical Inc. announced the completion of the first procedure in a patient utilizing its LIBERTY ...

Home July 09, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

June 26, 2024 — Semaglutide, a medication initially developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, significantly improves ...

Home June 26, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

June 21, 2024 — Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the peer-reviewed Journal of the American College of ...

Home June 21, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

June 20, 2024 — Microbot Medical Inc. announced its agreement with Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a leading ...

Home June 20, 2024
Home
News | Cardiovascular Clinical Studies

June 20, 2024 — A programming algorithm, being tested by HonorHealth Research Institute for those patients with new or ...

Home June 20, 2024
Home
Subscribe Now