Health & Fitness
Mon, February 14, 2011Fri, February 11, 2011Thu, February 10, 2011Wed, February 9, 2011Tue, February 8, 2011Mon, February 7, 2011Sun, February 6, 2011Fri, February 4, 2011Thu, February 3, 2011Wed, February 2, 2011Tue, February 1, 2011Mon, January 31, 2011Sun, January 30, 2011Fri, January 28, 2011Thu, January 27, 2011Wed, January 26, 2011Tue, January 25, 2011Abiomed Announces Survey Results and Launches National Heart Recovery Awareness Campaign
Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, February 4th 2011 at 9:26 GMT by Market Wire
DANVERS, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Abiomed, Inc. ] (NASDAQ: ABMD) today announced that it will kick off [ American Heart ] month by launching a national campaign to raise awareness for [ heart recovery ]. This campaign will focus on educating women since they have a lower survival rate within five years after having a heart attack and can also suffer acutely from pregnancy heart failure.
"Prevention strategies should not be evaluated solely on their ability to reduce cost of care, but instead they should be valued based on a combination of cost and impact on patient well being, including the length and quality of life."
Abiomed defines heart recovery as an improvement of the heart muscle function that enables a patient to sustain quality of life at home with their native heart. Cardiac circulatory support devices such as Impella®, the Worlda™s Smallest Heart Pump, take over or augment the pumping function of the heart, allowing it to rest and recover.
Abiomed recently commissioned Harris Interactive® to conduct an online survey of 2,079 U.S. adults aged 18 and over, to evaluate knowledge about heart muscle recovery. Study results indicate the following:
- 74% of all adults indicate that keeping their own hearts is a top priority for them.
- 85% of adults agree with the statement, aIf I suffered a heart attack, I would look for a treatment option that would give me the best chance of returning to my normal quality of life.a
- 95% of adults indicate that they would have concerns if they or someone they know needed a heart transplant. Concerns are broken down as: availability of a compatible heart for transplant (44%), surgical risks (19%), insurance coverage (18%), rehabilitation (11%), missing work or other obligations (1%) and other (2%).
- 72% were anot at all knowledgeablea about heart muscle recovery as an option for patients following a heart attack or other serious heart condition.
aHeart failure is now a problem of epic proportions, and for the most part remains due to severe heart muscle dysfunction, such as that from heart attack or multiple coronary blockages,a said Srihari S. Naidu, M.D., Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Winthrop-University Hospital. aNewer devices for cardiac support, such as the Impella, are rapidly introducing new paradigms in treatment that should allow more people to either avoid serious heart damage completely or recover from it more fully.a
A recent report by the American Heart Association (AHA) stated that, aPrevention strategies should not be evaluated solely on their ability to reduce cost of care, but instead they should be valued based on a combination of cost and impact on patient well being, including the length and quality of life.a According to the AHA, within five years after surviving their first heart attack, 33% of men and 43% of women die.
aMore than 400,000 American women have heart attacks annually and with worse outcomes after a heart attack, the ability to preserve, support and recover the heart muscle is integral in preventing further heart failure for these patients,a said Mark Turco, M.D., Director Center for Cardiac and Vascular Research, Washington Adventist Hospital and past President DC Chapter of the AHA. aOne in 27 women die of breast cancer, yet one in two women die of heart failure. This is a startling statistic and emphasizes the need to educate women on heart recovery as a treatment option.a
aThe Abiomed heart pump was a critical part of my survival and recovery. Without it, my heart never would have had the opportunity to rest and recover its function. I have no restrictions related to my surgery. I lead a completely normal life with my own heart. I am able to work full time, keep up with two active dogs, travel to visit friends and family, play softball, and lead a very active lifestyle,a said Melissa Moser.
Tomorrow on February 4, 2011, in support of [ National Wear Red Day ] for Women, Melissa and two other Abiomed heart recovery patients will share their personal stories with media and join Michael Minogue, Abiomed Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, in ringing the NASDAQ closing bell at 4:30 p.m. ET, in honor of patients whose hearts have been recovered and to recognize all women living with heart failure.
Methodology of Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Abiomed from January 20-24, 2011 among 2,079 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Aimee Maillett of Abiomed at [ amaillett@abiomed.com ].
ABOUT ABIOMED
Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, Abiomed, Inc. is a leading provider of medical devices that provide circulatory support to acute heart failure patients across the continuum of care in heart recovery. Our products are designed to enable the heart to rest, heal and recover by improving blood flow and/or performing the pumping of the heart. For additional information please visit: [ www.abiomed.com ].
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the usage of Abiomed's products. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties associated with development, testing, regulatory approvals, anticipated future losses, complex manufacturing, high quality requirements, dependence on limited sources of supply, competition, technological change, government regulation, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, and other risks and challenges detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and the most recently filed Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
