Bariatric syringes under the brands “Wegovy”, “Ozempic” and “Mounjaro” are sold at In der Achat Apotheke in Mitte, Germany.
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Good afternoon! A large number of insured Americans may qualify for a very popular weight loss and diabetes drug called GLP-1, for example Novo NordiskWegovy and Ozempic.
At least two-fifths of privately insured U.S. adults under age 65, or more than 57 million people, may be eligible for GLP-1 under a new clinical standard. analyze Findings from health policy research organization KFF. Among them, more than 36 million people are diagnosed with obesity alone.
GLP-1 is approved to treat adults with type 2 diabetes or Obese, or people who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss injection Wegovy is also the only GLP-1 approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in obese or overweight adults with cardiovascular disease.
But here’s the catch: The number of adults eligible to get these drugs can vary, depending on additional requirements set by employer-sponsored health plans. KFF said employers will weigh GLP-1’s high cost (its price tag is about $1,000 per month), clinical benefits and employee needs.
KFF said employers can impose additional eligibility conditions on coverage, such as higher BMI requirements. For example, only 14.6 million adults under age 65 covered by these health plans would be eligible if employers adopted a BMI threshold of 35 or higher. Under approval, the current BMI cutoffs for GLP-1 are 30 or higher (for obese patients) and 27 or higher (for overweight patients) Label GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity.
Some plans may also only cover GLP-1 for diabetes management and not obesity.
KFF also noted that as of two years ago, only “relatively few people” enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans claimed GLP-1. KFF said that by 2022, only 3% of adults with employer insurance will have a prescription for one of these drugs. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, is the most common GLP-1 drug since entering the U.S. market in 2018.
Still, KFF noted that there is “some evidence” that GLP-1 use has “continued to increase only in the past two years,” beyond the latest insurance claims data. According to one study, about 6% of adults, regardless of insurance coverage, said they were currently taking GLP-1 drugs. KFF poll Released in May. About 12% said they had received one of these treatments at some point.
More people may also become eligible for GLP-1 when new uses are approved. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company Both are studying their respective drugs as potential treatments for fatty liver disease and chronic kidney disease, among others. The companies may get approval for some of these conditions in the next year or so.
Please feel free to send Annika any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data: annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
The latest in healthcare tech: Apple announces new health features for sleep apnea and hearing assistance
good afternoon!
apple An event was held at its headquarters in Cupertino, California on Monday to announce a slew of new products and updates. The company unveiled the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch Series 10, and new AirPods, but I think its new healthcare features stole the show.
“We are very proud to introduce first-of-its-kind hearing aid features with AirPods Pro 2 this fall and an innovative way to detect sleep apnea symptoms through Apple Watch,” Apple CEO Cook wrote in a statement. Published on X on Monday. “These life-changing tools will help people connect more deeply and live healthier.”
Here’s everything you need to know:
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple says its latest watch can help alert users of sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that causes people’s breathing to start and stop repeatedly throughout the night.
Sleep apnea affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, but Apple says 80% of people with the condition go undiagnosed. If people with sleep apnea don’t receive treatment, they may be at higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
To detect this condition, the Series 10 uses an accelerometer to measure breathing disturbances that occur at night. Users can view their nightly metrics in the Health app. Apple will analyze breathing disorder data once a month and notify people if they show “consistent signs” of severe or moderate sleep apnea.
The company will also produce a “detailed report” that users can submit to their doctors.
Apple says the feature’s detection algorithm was developed based on “an extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea testing” and validated in clinical studies. The company expects the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies to approve the technology “soon.”
The Series 10 launches on September 20, but is available for pre-order now. Prices start at $399. Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 will also offer sleep apnea notifications.
AirPods Pro 2
Apple also launched new AirPods Pro 2 features that can help users evaluate and protect their hearing.
The company says hearing loss is difficult to detect because it usually occurs gradually, so it created a five-minute hearing test that users can take at home. To test, users simply put on AirPods Pro 2 and tap the screen when hearing sounds of different frequencies and volumes.
Apple says the test is clinically validated and designed based on real-world data. The results will be stored in the Health app, where users will see their personalized hearing profile. People can take regular tests and access educational materials about hearing loss, the company added.
Once the user undergoes a hearing test, individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss can use AirPods Pro 2 as a clinical-grade, over-the-counter hearing aid. Apple uses the test results to determine what sounds a person needs instant amplification, whether it’s elements in the environment or different parts of speech.
Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple’s vice president of health, said during the event: “This will allow you to better hear the sounds around you, helping to keep you safe and connected to those nearby, making it easier to hear sounds and Participate in the conversation.
In addition, Desai said users’ hearing profiles will automatically be applied to calls, music and movies on Apple devices.
Apple said it also expects FDA and other regulatory agencies to approve the hearing tool soon. Hearing testing and hearing aid functionality will be available via a free software update this fall. AirPods Pro 2 sell for $249.
Apple said it has also added “hearing protection” features to AirPods Pro 2 to minimize users’ exposure to potentially damaging environmental noise.
The ear tips on the headphones help passively reduce noise, and Apple says machine learning on the H2 chip that powers the headphones “reduces louder, more intermittent noises 48,000 times per second.” Hearing protection is on by default.
It’s worth reiterating that Apple is still awaiting regulatory approval, but I think these features solidify the company’s position as an innovative player in healthcare. We have more health data than ever before, and Apple seems acutely aware of this.
The lingering question is whether these health features will be enough to entice consumers to buy new watches and headphones.
You can read more about Apple’s latest announcements here.
Please feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.
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