Vaping expected to increase COPD health and economic burden by 2050

New ResMed-supported research presented at ERS 2024 predicts the future burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Western Europe, due to increased air pollution, smoking and vaping, with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) improving survival.

88.7 million new COPD hospital admissions expected in Western Europe between 2019 and 2050
Vaping is expected to add nearly €30 billion in direct and indirect costs by 2050
€4.9 trillion projected cumulative cost of COPD lung disease support by 2050
16% expected reduction in risk of death after a severe exacerbation for COPD patients using home NIV support

SAN DIEGO and VIENNA, Sept. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ResMed presented 18 supported studies at ERS 2024, including research predicting that vaping, smoking, and air pollution will significantly increase the economic and public health burden of COPD in Western Europe. Annual direct and indirect costs are expected to exceed €170 billion by 2050, cumulatively costing Western European economies more than €4.9 trillion by 2050. Vaping alone is expected to require an additional €3.78 billion annually to support its impact on healthcare and societal costs.

COPD poses a significant health and economic burden, which is exacerbated by environmental and behavioral changes such as air pollution and vaping. Previous modeling work has focused on quantifying the burden of COPD in North America, taking into account tobacco smoking and air pollution¹The ResMed-supported study aimed to extend this US modelling by also considering the effects of vaping on the COPD burden in Western Europe².

The results of this relevant research were presented at ERS 2024 by Elroy Boers, PhD, Lead Health Research Scientist, ResMed. The model predicted that, in addition to smoking and air pollution, vaping will have a notable economic and health impact on the burden of COPD through 2050, both cumulatively and annually.

The outcomes for 2050 describing the relative increase associated with vaping (compared to the no-vaping scenario) are as follows:

Direct costs are expected to increase relatively by 0.5% (cumulative) and 2.1% (annual), representing a cumulative increase of €10 billion.
Indirect costs are expected to increase relatively by 0.7% (cumulative) and 2.3% (annual), representing a cumulative increase of €20 billion.
The number of exacerbations is expected to increase relatively by 0.3% or 1.6 million (cumulative) and 1.8% (annual)
Hospital admissions are expected to increase by 0.2% or 190,000 (cumulative) and 3.3% (annual).

“To prevent increased public costs, additional strain on health care systems, and reduce the loss of life from COPD, much larger measures are needed. Public health and advocacy efforts that target known risk factors such as smoking, vaping, and outdoor and indoor air pollution may be critical to preventing this anticipated burden,” said Carlos M. Nunez, MD, Chief Medical Officer of ResMed.

A separate ResMed-supported study presented by Professor Jean-Louis Pépin from the University of Grenoble Alpes in France examined the role of home NIV (non-invasive ventilation) support in the management of COPD. The study found that continued use of home NIV significantly reduced the risk of death from COPD flare-ups (exacerbations), with a 16% reduction in the risk of dying after severe exacerbations and a 12% reduction for those without exacerbations. The study included almost 50,000 adults with COPD who were being treated with home NIV. The multistate modelling analysis estimated the impact of NIV continuation versus discontinuation on transitions between three different disease states (without severe exacerbation, severe exacerbation and death).

“The positive impact of home NIV on reducing the risk of death offers some comfort to the millions of people who already have COPD and those who will in the years to come. However, proactive work now by potential patients and their loved ones to learn to recognize symptoms early, as well as take preventive steps to reduce risk factors, will go a long way to positively impacting hundreds of millions of lives worldwide,” Nunez continued. “Education and meaningful action are essential to limiting the number of people affected by COPD and the life-threatening events caused by these conditions.”

Full list of ResMed-supported studies presented at ERS 2024:

The modified Baveno classification for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
Impact of home NIV on severe exacerbations and survival in COPD: a French nationwide cohort study using multistate models
Light, latitude and Epworth sleepiness scale in the European sleep apnea database – a bold proposal
The economic and health burden of COPD in Western Europe to 2050: a scenario analysis based on two large data sources
Role of partnership in the acceptance of PAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea
An adverse effect of ATC N-class treatment in OSA patients with concurrent psychiatric disorders: an ESADA cohort study.
Association between sleep-related hypoxia and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer – the NEOSAS-GFPC study group
Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) in patients with central or complex sleep apnea and associated cardiovascular comorbidities: the READ-ASV registry
Effect of adaptive servoventilation on cardiac repolarization in patients with myocardial infarction and sleep-related breathing disorders
Effect of non-respiratory arousals on residual sleepiness in CPAP-treated OSA patients
The association between behavioral clusters and short-term PAP use in OSA
PAP use in OSA patients with and without insomnia
Use of adaptive servo ventilation (ASV): results from the READ-ASV registry
A scenario-based modelling study to predict the future burden of COPD in Western Europe, taking into account air pollution, tobacco smoking and e-cigarette vaping
Obstructive sleep apnea and C-reactive protein levels: data from ESADA
Preserved ratio of impaired spirometry and OSA may contribute to cardiometabolic complications: evidence from the ESADA cohort
Comparisons of cardiovascular risk scores in patients with obstructive sleep apnea – the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA)
Effect of CPAP on circulating levels of MPO and MMP-9 in adults with coronary artery disease and obstructive sleep apnea: the randomized controlled RICCADSA trial

About ResMed
At ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), we pioneer innovative solutions that treat and keep people out of the hospital, enabling them to live healthier, better-quality lives. Our digital health technologies and cloud-connected medical devices are transforming care for people with sleep apnea, COPD and other chronic diseases. Our comprehensive software platforms outside the hospital support the professionals and caregivers who help people stay healthy in the home or care setting of their choice. By enabling better care, we improve quality of life, reduce the impact of chronic disease and lower costs for consumers and health systems in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit ResMed.com and follow @ResMed.

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Julia Moser
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¹ E. Boers, A. Allen, A. Benjafield, M. Barrett, and A. Malhotra. The economic and health burden of COPD in North America: projections to 2050 (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med2023;207:A3593.

² E. Boers, A. Allen, A. Benjafield, LE Crotty Alexander, A. Malhotra and M. Barrett. A scenario-based modelling study to project the future burden of COPD in Western Europe, taking into account air pollution, tobacco smoking and e-cigarette vaping. (abstract). ERS 2024.