Inspire touts therapy specifically for Medicare patients
By Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
Updated Fri May 17, 2019
MINNEAPOLIS - Inspire Medical Systems has announced the results of a study that shows Medicare-aged patients, in particular, respond well to and adhere to its therapy. The study, led by physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed 235 Medicare-aged patients and 365 younger-aged patients and collected information on sleep apnea severity, quality of life and any complications with the procedure. The results demonstrated that, while all patients positively responded to Inspire therapy, the Medicare-aged patients had a slightly higher response, as well as a slightly higher adherence, to the therapy. “This study corroborates the growing evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of Inspire therapy for treatment of OSA in properly selected CPAP-intolerant cases,” said Dr. Kirk Withrow, associate professor at the university and lead author of the publication of the study the Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. “In addition, it specifically affirms the benefit of Inspire therapy for older patients, who have been previously shown to have experienced worse outcomes with other types of sleep surgery.” The study concludes that Inspire therapy should be strongly considered in the treatment of older patients who are CPAP intolerant and eligible per the established inclusion criteria. Inspire's therapy is an FDA-approved neurostimulation technology that provides a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe OSA.
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