Category: NObreath

The National FeNO Programme: Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC)

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The National FeNO Programme has recently released its Impact Report, promoting how their programme has improved access to fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing across the National Health Service (NHS) in England. The programme ran from April 2021 to March 2023.

The National FeNO Programme was part of a wider programme by the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s (AAC)’s Rapid Uptake Products Programme. The AAC brings together the NHS, patients, industry, government and more, with the goal of removing barriers to innovative and revolutionary new treatments and technology1. In England, the AAC has helped encourage the adoption of FeNO, with the help of the AHSN Network which delivered the programme as part of its commission from the NHS England Innovation Research and Life Sciences (IRLS) team1. The National FeNO Programme included two FeNO devices appraised by NICE, with NObreath®, manufactured by Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., being one of them.

What is FeNO?

FeNO is very minuscule particles of nitric oxide (NO), measured in parts per billion (ppb). NO is naturally produced by your body to help combat inflammation and when your airway is inflamed, NO is produced in the lungs and exhaled on the breath. The production of NO is often found to be higher in inflammatory conditions such as asthma and therefore FeNO monitoring can be used for the detection and management of such conditions.

Programme impact on FeNO device and testing

Over the duration of the programme, 1,244 new FeNO devices are now available in primary care. Notably, it is estimated that 53% of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in England now have access to FeNO testing2, thanks to the National FeNO Programme. Yhe AAC and Office for Life Sciences (OLS), funded 33 national FeNO projects through their Pathway Transformation Fund (PTF), a total of £915,000 was given from the PTF, resulting in the implementation of 118 new FeNO devices.

Programme’s impact on education and funding for FeNO

The AHSN Network has supported training and development for FeNO testing, with two FeNO training modules developed for healthcare professionals. This has resulted in over 4,900 hours of training being delivered. A FeNO implementation toolkit was created as an aid to support the adoption of FeNO testing, and has been viewed over 13,500 times. After training modules were completed, a survey was carried out by 1,047 healthcare professionals enrolled on the FeNO training modules, 91% indicated the training will help in their role.

FeNO programme impact on asthma care for patients in England

During the course of the programme, the report estimates a potential 58,000 new asthmatics in England receiving an asthma diagnosis with the support of FeNO testing. In turn, helping to increase the accuracy and speed of the diagnosis of asthma, thus speeding up access to essential treatments for patients2.

What’s next?

The FeNO programme has now finished, but the incredibly important work around FeNO still continues. NICE, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), and the British Thoracic Society (BTS) are currently developing joint asthma guidelines expected in 20243. In addition to this, the FeNO toolkit, training modules and resources developed during the AAC FeNO programme will remain accessible. Future opportunities still remain for improving asthma care in England, including the continuous sustainable growth of FeNO within primary and secondary care, and establishing a sustainable funding mechanism for FeNO testing across England.

With a handheld, portable, easy-to-use device, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd., is helping to break FeNO accessibility barriers. Previously FeNO breath analysis has been expensive, however, they have made it more cost-effective by having low-cost mouthpieces with a long shelf-life. The NObreath® includes a 5-year warranty on the device and sensor, and the service and maintenance options they offer have also been simplified. To find out how you can support your patients with FeNO monitoring, visit https://www.nobreathfeno.com.

Read the full National FeNO Programme Impact Report here:

https://wessexahsn.org.uk/img/projects/FeNO%20-%20national%20programme%20impact%20report%20-%20FINAL.pdf

References:

  1. NHS Accelerate Access Collaborative [Internet] NHS England. 2023. [Cited 5th July 2023]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/
  2. National FeNO programme impact report [Internet]. Wessex Academic Health Science Network. 2023. [Cited 6th July 2023]. Available from: https://wessexahsn.org.uk/img/projects/FeNO%20-%20national%20programme%20impact%20report%20-%20FINAL.pdf
  3. FeNO programme impact report [Internet]. Wessex Academic Health Science Network. 2023. [Cited 10th July 2023]. Available from: https://wessexahsn.org.uk/projects/604/feno-programme-impact

World Asthma Day – 2nd May 2023

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Organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), World Asthma Day is an annual awareness day aimed at raising awareness of asthma and improving healthcare, with this year’s theme focusing on ‘Asthma care for All’1. Thanks to over 15 years of experience in FeNO monitoring, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd has developed a FeNO breath analysis device that can aid in the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bedfont® is working to increase access to FeNO monitoring worldwide through its dedicated network of distributors and Key Opinion Leaders.

Did you know that worldwide asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 and caused 455,000 deaths?2 The central process within asthma and many other lung diseases is airway inflammation, and being able to detect airway inflammation levels and monitor a patient’s response to treatment is regarded as a gold standard in the management of respiratory diseases.

When airways are inflamed Nitric Oxide (NO) is naturally produced by your body to help combat inflammation. This production of NO is often found to be higher in inflammatory conditions such as asthma, and an innovative way of detecting and managing such conditions is done through FeNO monitoring. Two funded projects in the UK have presented data from a staff survey in primary care that shows that 83% of survey respondents have felt that FeNO testing has improved confidence levels when diagnosing asthma, and 90% believe that access to FeNO testing has supported the diagnosis of asthma with patients3.

Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) is a measure of the concentration of NO gas particles in exhaled breath, expressed in parts per billion (ppb). The NObreath® FeNO device by Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. is easy to use with its simple exhale-only technique and on-screen visual motivation. With over 10 years of clinical use featuring in many studies worldwide, the NObreath® FeNO device aids in the diagnosis & management of asthma for both adult and child patients, giving you the ability to also store up to 25 results in up to 50 patient profiles with full graph results.

With a handheld, portable, easy-to-use device, Bedfont® is helping to break FeNO accessibility barriers. Previously FeNO breath analysis has been expensive, however, we have made it more cost-effective by having low-cost mouthpieces with a long shelf-life. The NObreath® includes a 5-year warranty on the device and sensor, and we have also simplified the service and maintenance options. To find out how you can support your patients with FeNO monitoring to improve ‘Asthma care for All’ this World Asthma Day, visit https://www.nobreathfeno.com.

References:

1. Rurey K. 2023 World Asthma Day – Global Initiative for Asthma [Internet]. GINA. 2023 [cited 2023Apr4]. Available from: https://ginasthma.org/2023-world-asthma-day/

2. Asthma [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; [cited 2023Apr17]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma

3. Feno testing in Primary Care [Internet]. West of England Academic Health Science Network. 2023 [cited 2023Apr17]. Available from: https://www.weahsn.net/our-work/case-study/feno-testing-in-primary-care/

How the NObreath FeNO monitor is closing the gaps in asthma care

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When a person’s airways are not working correctly, the resulting difficulty in breathing can be detrimental to everyday activities and lead to more serious health risks. According to the World Health Organization, asthma – a chronic condition where a person’s airways are narrow and inflamed, making airflow difficult – is a health condition that affected over 260 million people worldwide in 20191. On May 3rd, 2022, asthma care advocates celebrated World Asthma Day, which is dedicated to raising awareness of asthma worldwide. A World Health Organization collaborative organization called Global Initiative for Asthma, or GINA, selected the theme ‘Closing the Gap’ to highlight many gaps in asthma care which are an issue all year-round.

There are multiple gaps in present-day asthma care that can be addressed to improve the general health of people with asthma. Through education services and user-friendly technology such as the NObreath® monitor, life sciences company Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. covers many topics that close the gaps in asthma care that GINA outlines. This blog post will highlight how FeNO monitoring with NObreath® solves some of these issues.

How the NObreath® Monitor Addresses Gaps in Asthma Care Access and Delivery

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels can be used as an indicator of airway inflammation, a common sign of asthma. The NObreath® is a fractional exhaled nitric oxide test monitor that easily and non-invasively measures expired breath nitric oxide3. This monitor is useful because it helps identify if a person requires regular asthma treatment such as medication.
As NObreath® is simple to use and is non-invasive, this device closes the gap between healthcare providers prescribing inhalers and a patient’s ability to use asthma care devices. Furthermore, this technology can be programmed for a range of patients, from children to adults, also addressing gaps between care for various age groups2,3.
NObreath® also bridges gaps in equal access to asthma care, between socioeconomic groups, and in different communities with a wide range of wealth diversity. The device is available for purchase in multiple countries, has no limits on its use, and operates with low-cost mouthpieces that have a long lifetime, making NObreath® a cost-effective solution to asthma care4.

How Bedfont’s Education Portal Addresses Gaps in Asthma Care Communication, Education, and Awareness

Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. also created an online education portal around NObreath® that helps solve other challenges to asthma care outlined by GINA. The portal includes various informational and training videos surrounding the device and effective asthma care that boosts communication and awareness about asthma to both people with asthma and health care providers alike.
The website includes videos explaining FeNO and interpreting FeNO test results in the context of asthma care which connects scientific evidence and education to the actual delivery of care2,5. Other videos cover topics such as explaining how to take a test, change parts, and charge the NObreath® monitor. These bolster the machine’s usability and accessibility and the general awareness of asthma as a chronic disease for people with asthma, the general public, and health care professionals2,5.
Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. Provides Solutions to Asthma Care Challenges
World leaders in breath analysis, Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. addresses multiple gaps outlined by GINA for World Asthma Day 2022 through the userfriendly NObreath® FeNO monitor and an education portal covering scientific concepts and practical learning.

References:
1. World. (2021, May 3rd). Asthma. Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma
2. World Asthma Day 2022 – Global Initiative for Asthma – GINA. (2022, April 6th). Global Initiative for Asthma – GINA. https://ginasthma.org/world-asthma-day-2022/
3. Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. (2022). Bedfont.com. https://www.bedfont.com/nobreath
4. NObreath® | Bedfont® GmbH. (2021, April 15th). Bedfont® GmbH. https://eurostore.bedfont.com/product/nobreath-2nd-generation/
5. Educational Portal – NObreath. (2018). NObreath. https://www.nobreathfeno.com/educational-portal/

Bedfont Scientific Ltd receives FDA clearance for NObreath® FeNO monitor

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Bedfont’s NObreath® monitor for airway inflammation has been cleared for sale in the USA

UK, med-tech company, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., is celebrating a brighter 2022 as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared its NObreath FeNO monitor for use in monitoring airway inflammation.

The NObreath®, which conforms to ATS and ERS guidelines1, is a portable, non-invasive device for the measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in human breath. The production of nitric oxide is often found to be increased in inflammatory conditions such as asthma.

The NObreath® works by measuring FeNO through breath analysis, making the process quick, simple, and non-invasive for both the Healthcare Professional and the patient. Interpreting FeNO levels aids in identifying patients who do/do not require ongoing treatment2 whilst also differentiating between allergic (eosinophilic) and non-allergic asthma3, and if used daily, FeNO measurements can help to predict and prevent exacerbations and attacks4.

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, comments, “NObreath has been available outside the US for over 12 years now, we have been working towards FDA clearance for quite some time and we are over the moon to have received it. We are one step closer to achieving our purpose; to make FeNO monitoring lower cost and therefore more accessible globally. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), around 25 million Americans suffer from asthma; that’s a potential 25 million people that the NObreath® can help through FeNO monitoring.”

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REFERENCES

  1. ATS/ERS Recommendations for Standardized Procedures for the Online and Offline Measurement of Exhaled Lower Respiratory Nitric Oxide and Nasal Nitric Oxide, 2005; American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine; vol. 171: 912-930;2005
  2. Andrew D. Smith, Jan O. Cowan, Sue Filsell, Chris MacLachlan, Gabrielle Monti-Sheehan, Pamela Jackson and D. Robin Taylor. Diagnosing Asthma: Comparisons between Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements and Conventional Tests. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 169. pp 473-478, 2004.
  3. Coumou HBel E. Improving the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma [Internet]. Taylor and Francis online. 2017 [cited 21 December 2021]. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17476348.2017.1236688
  4. Harkins M. Exhaled Nitric Oxide Predicts Asthma Exacerbation [Internet]. Taylor & Francis. 2017 [cited 21 December 2021]. Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1081/JAS-120033990
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