Benefits of Vasomedical's EECP Therapy in Heart Failure Presented at the 10th Annual HFSA Scientific Meeting; Ventricular Function, Exercise Capacity, Symptom Status, Quality of Life All Improve
WESTBURY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Vasomedical, Inc. (OTCBB: VASO), a leader in noninvasive management of cardiovascular diseases, announced today three presentations highlighting the benefits of EECP(R) therapy in patients with heart failure were made at the 10th Annual Heart Failure Society of America Scientific (HFSA) Meeting held in Seattle, Washington, September 10-13.
Investigators at the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi, India, presented data demonstrating that heart failure patients were able to double their exercise capacity following a course of EECP therapy and maintain the benefit at one-year follow-up, along with significant improvements in quality of life. Dr. Anil K. Gothwal and colleagues also used echocardiography to objectively assess function and size of the heart's main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, showing significant improvement and confirming some of the physiologic changes achievable with EECP therapy.
Susan F. Neill, Citrus Cardiology Consultants, Inverness, FL, and Dr. Michael E. McIvor, St. Petersburg Heart Center, St. Petersburg, FL, presented data from a cohort of 53 adult patients with systolic heart failure. Their results also showed significant improvements in symptom status, exercise capacity, quality of life and ventricular function. Moreover, circulating levels of BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), a marker of heart failure progression, were also shown to significantly improve upon completion of therapy.
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William Lawson, M.D., FACC, University of Stony Brook Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, presented data from the International EECP Patient Registry demonstrating that EECP therapy is equally effective in diabetic and non-diabetic patients suffering from angina and heart failure. Both diabetic and non-diabetic heart failure patients received the same benefits from EECP treatment, with improvement in at least one class in both Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications, decreases in weekly angina episodes and nitroglycerin use, and improvement in quality of life scores. Physicians commonly use CCS and NYHA classifications to define the impact of angina and/or heart failure symptoms respectively on ability to function.
"A patient with heart failure suffers tremendously from his or her symptoms and from limitations on activity and lifestyle. EECP therapy can lessen debilitating and discouraging symptoms, and increase the ability to engage in social and physical activity, even in patients receiving optimal medical therapy. We believe that the PEECH trial demonstrated this in a definitive way and the presentations made at the HFSA conference continue to highlight the dramatic improvements that can be achieved with this cost-effective, noninvasive therapy," commented Thomas Glover, president and chief executive officer of Vasomedical.
About EECP(R) Therapy
EECP external counterpulsation therapy is typically given in a doctor's office or outpatient clinic in 35 one-hour sessions over 4 to 7 weeks. Patients recline on a contoured treatment table and their calves, lower thighs and upper thighs are wrapped in a pneumatic cuff set. The system, which is synchronized to the individual patient's cardiac cycle, inflates the cuffs with air to create external pressure when the heart is resting and deflates the cuffs just before the next heartbeat. The system's action, which pulses counter to the heart's beating, increases blood flow to the heart muscle and other organs and decreases the heart's workload, creating a greater oxygen supply for the heart muscle while lowering its need for oxygen. Additionally, EECP therapy improves function of the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels throughout the body, thereby lessening resistance to blood flow.
About Vasomedical, Inc.
Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting EECP external counterpulsation systems based on the Company's unique proprietary technology. EECP therapy is a noninvasive, outpatient therapy for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system currently used for chronic stable angina and heart failure. Indications for use include stable or unstable angina, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. The therapy serves to increase circulation in areas of the heart with less than adequate blood supply and improves systemic vascular function. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and equipment maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient outcomes. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com. EECP is a registered trademark for Vasomedical's enhanced external counterpulsation systems.
Except for historical information contained in this release, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this report, words such as "anticipated," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "may," "plans," "potential" and "intends" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of the dramatic changes taking place in the healthcare environment; the impact of competitive procedures and products and their pricing; medical insurance reimbursement policies; unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems; unforeseen difficulties and delays in product development programs; the actions of regulatory authorities and third-party payers in the United States and overseas; uncertainties about the acceptance of a novel therapeutic modality by the medical community; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
Vasomedical, Inc. Thomas Glover or Thomas Varricchione, 516-997-4600 or Investor Relations: 516-997-4600 ext. 790 investorrelations@vasomedical.com
09/19/2006 14:16
