What to know about respiratory depression

Respiratory depression, or hypoventilation, refers to a slow, shallow breathing rate. Symptoms, or hypoventilatory changes, may include shortness of breath, frequent yawns, and an increased heart rate.

The brain controls the respiratory drive. Therefore, anything that affects the function of the central nervous system, including the brain, can cause respiratory depression.

In mild cases, the person may not notice any symptoms. In other cases, they may have slow and shallow breathing.

Oxygen therapy and respiration machines may help treat respiratory depression, depending on its severity. Without treatment, respiratory depression can cause life threatening complications and even death.

This article provides an overview of respiratory depression, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Respiratory depression happens when the lungs fail to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen efficiently. This dysfunction leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the body, which can result in health complications.

A common symptom of respiratory depression is taking breaths that are slower and shallower than normal.

In most cases, breathing rates are as low as 8–10 breaths per minute. The normal breathing rate of a healthy adult is 12–20 breaths per minute.

Respiratory depression can cause acid to build up in the body and lead to respiratory acidosis, a life threatening condition associated with organ failure.

Certain medications and substances can cause respiratory depression or increase a person’s risk. These include sedative medication, narcotic pain medications, and other substances that depress brain function, such as alcohol and certain illegal drugs.

Some health conditions can also cause respiratory depression.

Common causes include:

The symptoms of respiratory depression depend on its severity. In more severe cases, the symptoms become more evident.

Symptoms of respiratory depression include:

Some people may also experience:

If a person does not receive treatment, severe respiratory depression can lead to:

Anyone who suspects respiratory depression or notices several of the typical symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

If a person is in the company of someone with these symptoms, it is vital to keep them alert and moving as much as possible.

A doctor will usually begin a diagnosis by asking questions about the person’s symptoms and reviewing their medical history and medication profile. They will then perform a physical exam to look for signs of abnormal breathing and heart rhythms.

After an initial visit, a doctor will usually order diagnostic tests to help confirm respiratory depression and evaluate its severity.

These tests may include:

Therapies and medications that doctors commonly use to treat respiratory depression include:

If overdose is the cause of respiratory depression, detoxification will be necessary. Doctors often use medications that work against the effects of opioids, such as naloxone (Narcan), methadone (Dolophine), and a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone (Suboxone).

It is not possible to prevent all cases of respiratory depression, such as those that are due to accidents or sudden disease. However, other cases are preventable.

Ways to reduce the chances of developing the condition include:

Respiratory depression, or hypoventilation, happens when the lungs do not effectively exchange the gases oxygen and carbon dioxide. It can lead to complications, such as respiratory acidosis, and, without treatment, it can be fatal.

Causes include medical conditions that affect the brain, such as a stroke, and medications or recreational drugs that impair the function of the central nervous system.

If a person suspects respiratory depression, they should seek emergency medical attention.

Hologic (HOLX) Gets FDA Nod for Multiplexed Respiratory Test

Hologic, Inc. HOLX recently announced the receipt of the FDA 501(k) approval for its Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay. The multiplexed respiratory test is available in the United States with new RespDirect collection kit.

Hologic has sent more than 200 million SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostic tests around the world since the COVID epidemic started. Following the July 2022 news of the CE certification for the same test in Europe, the FDA's approval of the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay strengthens Hologic's position as one of the biggest molecular diagnostic firms in the world.

The latest development will likely bolster Hologic’s Molecular Diagnostics business.

The Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay is done using the fully-automated, high-throughput Panther Fusion system, which can process more than 1,000 tests in a 24-hour period and gives preliminary results in about three hours.

This system's adaptability, combined with Hologic's respiratory virus menu, provides a variety of testing possibilities from a single sample and enables laboratories and healthcare practitioners to tailor patient testing depending on medical history and regional prevalence.

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This assay is a molecular diagnostic test that distinguishes between the four most common respiratory viruses, including the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A, influenza B and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay debuts with the new RespDirectTM collection kit, which enables laboratories to directly load samples for processing on the Panther Fusion system without any uncapping or specimen transfer steps, saving time and lowering the risk of error, repetitive stress injuries and virus exposure.

A number of respiratory infections, including COVID, the flu and RSV, circulated concurrently throughout communities this past winter and frequently displayed identical symptoms, making diagnostics challenging. Per Hologic’s management, the Panther Fusion assay will be a vital tool in assisting doctors in figuring out, which respiratory virus or coinfection patients are carrying that will help them decide on the best course of therapy.

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Per Grand View Research, the global respiratory disease testing/diagnostics market size was valued at $5.0 billion in 2016 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 3.3% by 2025. The rising rate of pollutants in the air and the release of hazardous gases causing lung diseases including COPD and other respiratory diseases around the world is driving the market.

In Diagnostics, Molecular Diagnostics continues to register strong growth during fiscal second quarter. The growth was driven by BVCVTV vaginitis panel and aided by the core STI menu, including Clemidiagonrhia, HPV and Trich. The company witnessed strong contributions from Biotheranostics and respiratory menu on the Panther Fusion during the quarter.

The company’s expanded global installed base of Panthers, over 3,250 strong represents the catalyst for the division's sustained growth. The superior workflow of the Panther combined with a broad menu of nearly 20 FDA-approved assays across the Panther and Panther Fusion systems, creates tremendous value for customers and differentiates us from competitors.

In the past year, Hologic’s shares inched up 3.4% compared with the industry’s fall of 2.4%.

Hologic currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

A few other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Addus Homecare Corporation ADUS, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. MMSI and Davita Inc DVA.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Addus Homecare’s 2023 earnings indicates a 10.9% year-over-year growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADUS’s 2023 earnings has moved 0.5% north in the past 30 days.

Addus Homecare has a long-term estimated growth rate of 11.8%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Merit Medical reported a first-quarter 2023 adjusted EPS of 64 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.4%. Revenues of $297.6 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.9%. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Merit Medical has a long-term estimated growth rate of 11%. MMSI’s earnings surpassed estimates in all the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 20.2%.

DaVita, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has a long-term estimated growth rate of 14.6%. DVA’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in one, the average surprise being 17.3%.

DaVita has lost 1.9% compared with the industry’s 18% decline in the past year.

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SunMed Finalizes Purchase of Vyaire Medical’s Respiratory Consumables Business

Medical device manufacturer SunMed today completed the acquisition of Vyaire Medical’s business unit that manufactures and markets respiratory and anesthesia consumables. SunMed itself is specialized in consumables for anesthesia and respiratory care, and the combination with the Vyaire business will make it a "one-stop source" for practitioners seeking those products. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

SunMed is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, and operates six FDA-registered and ISO 13485–certified manufacturing plants in Tucson, AZ; Mexico; and China. Capabilities include injection, compression, blow, and dip molding; molding tool design, build, and validation; and extrusion. ISO Class 7 and Class 8 cleanrooms are on site.

Chicago-based Vyaire was launched in 2016 via a joint venture between Becton Dickinson & Co. (BD) and private equity firm Apax Partners. In 2018, BD divested its minority share in Vyaire to Apax Partners in a deal estimated at $435 million.

SunMed CEO Hank Struik made note of the promising opportunities ahead for the joined brands. “As we bring our people together, we are confident in the highly complementary nature of our platforms and in our ability to strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and ensure our customers reliable and predictable supply of the most trusted respiratory and anesthesia consumables,” said Struik in a prepared statement. “Together, we will be even better positioned to drive innovation, using our combined expertise and industry-leading engineering capabilities. Our mission will continue to be focused on improving quality of life and setting the standard of care.”