Did you know that 40% of people worldwide live with potentially debilitating digestive health issues? Luckily, advances in at-home testing and healthcare, like our gut health breath tests, Breath Analyzer and App, can support patients to manage symptoms and take control of their gut health.
The worldwide impact of digestive disorders is colossal, with 40% of the global population, around 3.2 billion people, affected by digestive health issues. Symptoms are varied, including abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, and can have significant effects on quality of life. Digestive disorders also put a substantial burden on global healthcare economics, indirectly costing European countries an estimated €89 billion in 2019.
Digestive disease symptoms can overlap, rendering diagnosis a challenging and often lengthy process which leaves sufferers in the dark about the source of their discomfort. Current tests to determine the cause of gut symptoms include blood and stool tests, imaging, and endoscopic procedures. Although these tests are effective diagnostic tools, drawbacks include their cost, time burden to healthcare staff and patients, and invasive nature. The lattermost point is particularly pertinent – endoscopic procedures are associated with patient apprehension and anxiety, and ~3% of patients do not attend scheduled appointments.
Using breath tests to explore digestive conditions offers a novel and non-invasive diagnostic solution. Measuring the concentration of exhaled breath gases provides insights into the inner microbial workings of the gut. Bacteria in the large intestine digest carbohydrates and simple sugars, producing hydrogen and methane in the process. These gases transfer to systemic circulation where they are transported to the lungs and exhaled on breath. Measuring hydrogen and methane provides an evaluation of bacterial fermentation in the gut and characteristic concentration changes can be indicative of conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or carbohydrate malabsorption (e.g., lactose or fructose intolerance).
Breath testing for the diagnosis of digestive conditions also offers the advantage of being a viable at-home solution, offering benefits to healthcare professionals and patients alike. Breath testing at home relieves patients of the time commitment and costs of attending healthcare facilities and allows them to bypass long diagnostic wait times associated with clinical visits. Additionally, with patients completing breath tests at home, the clinical time and space required to prepare for and carry out breath tests is reduced, which may also offer some economic relief from the burden of digestive disease.
At OMED Health, we are proud to be contributing to the at-home gut health revolution by offering patients and clinicians access to breath-based diagnostic tests for SIBO and carbohydrate malabsorption. We have also developed the OMED Health Breath Analyzer and App, which will allow patients to collect longitudinal breath gas data and track symptoms and triggers to better understand their digestive health issues. Evidence-based support for digestive health conditions is crucial – that’s why our tests are clinically validated and adhere to the contemporary North American Consensus guidelines for testing and analysis. We understand that every patient and their preferences are unique, so our tests and devices all come with personalized support from expert gastrointestinal clinicians, who will support patients with tailored treatment plans. Ultimately, we are dedicated to bringing simple, easy-to-use diagnostic solutions for digestive health to the home, to support patients to take control of their gut health once and for all.
