New Digital Asthma and Emphysema Monitor Hits Shelves in Retail Pharmacies Nationwide; Provides Simple, Accurate Way to Monitor Lung Function at Home

Tampa, FL, Dec. 13 2004 – Microlife has launched the first digital peak flow meter that also provides FEV-1 measurement through its first major retail chain partner. According to practice guidelines and recommendations by the respected medical societies such as the American Lung Association and the American Thoracic Society, patients with asthma and emphysema should be performing peak flow and FEV-1 measurements at home on a routine basis. Before now, daily monitoring of peak flow and FEV-1 wasn’t reliable, practical or affordable. Yet, 35 million Americans suffer from chronic lung disease. Of them, 20 million Americans, including more than six million children, have asthma and more than 16 million Americans have emphysema or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) according to the American Lung Association.

“Managing asthma and other chronic lung diseases such as COPD needs to be a daily practice and having tools that are not only simple, but are highly accurate and reliable is key,” said James Mault, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer for Microlife USA.

The simple to use handheld device has received FDA clearance and is designed to be used by children as well as adults with chronic lung disease. The Microlife Peak Flow Monitor makes each breathing measurement automatically and stores up to 240 peak flow and FEV-1 measurements. Peak flow or peak expiratory rate measures how fast a person can exhale air. A peak flow test measures the function of the airways and indicates whether there is restriction or obstruction. This information can be easily downloaded and emailed so the patient can share their measurements with their doctor. The device also measures an important parameter called FEV-1, which is the forced expiratory volume after one second of exhaling. Usually, FEV-1 is decreased in obstructive airways due to mucus secretion, bronchospasm, inflammation or loss of elastic support of the airways.

Acute asthma attacks increase in the fall and winter months and are deadly for nearly 5,000 Americans each year. Chest colds are a leading culprit for setbacks and deaths of COPD patients. An important way to monitor lung function for the warning signs that often exist before crisis, is to use a device that measures peak flow and FEV-1.

“Monitoring peak flow and FEV-1 in between visits to the doctor can be very important to a patient’s care. These important measurements help determine whether the patient’s medications are working, dosages need to be changed or if the patient’s disease management program needs revision,” said Norbert Voelkel, M.D., Chief of the COPD Center, University of Colorado Hospital.

Shortcomings of Traditional Tools

Traditionally, some asthma and other lung disease patients have monitored their lung function at home using a plastic, manual peak flow meter which is unsophisticated and often difficult for patients to use. Most importantly, the manual meters contain a bead that goes up in the plastic tube when a patient blows into it; knowing exactly the point it at which the bead stops before dropping down into the tube is critical. With the manual meters, this often proves difficult, making record keeping unreliable and inaccurate.

Benefits of Peak Flow Monitoring

Measurements with a peak flow device can help both the patient and their doctor to monitor their disease and can help determine the effectiveness of medications and therapies. In addition, a peak flow measurement can help when a disease state is getting worse. A patient’s peak flow and FEV-1 may show changes before the patient recognizes any symptoms and can allow a physician to adjust a patient’s treatment to prevent dangerous episodes that could require hospitalization or may be life threatening.

Pulmonologists Recommend Digital Peak Flow

Pulmonary doctors at the American Thoracic Society meeting earlier this year were surveyed on the value of home monitoring for asthma patients and others suffering from lung diseases such as COPD. Of them, 78% said home monitoring of lung function for these patients is important, very important or critical to their disease management. 62% recommend digital peak flow devices to their patients.

About Microlife

Microlife is a global company and the world leader in the development and manufacturing of medical diagnostic equipment for home and institutional use. Blood pressure monitors, digital thermometers and peak flow meters are Microlife’s core business. Microlife is a vertically integrated manufacturing company with a worldwide sales and distribution network. Microlife exports over 35 million unit each year from its factory in Shenzhen, China to all parts of the world. Each unit utilizes leading edge technology for monitoring key health indicators. The Microlife family consists of more than 2,400 dedicated employees worldwide and is committed to continued research and development in medical devices that enable people to responsibly manage their own health.