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Are Philips sleep apnea devices carcinogenic? Thousands of patients are in doubt, after an alert launched by the National Medicines Safety Agency, which forced the company to replace them quickly. They would present a risk linked to sound-absorbing foam, which would release chemical particles.
More than 300,000 French people use a Philips respirator every night to treat their sleep apnea. Over time, a foam inside the case degrades, causing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, if inhaled, would be potentially carcinogenic. The manufacturer has committed to replacing the machines, but only 7% have so far. “The idea is to force Philips to accelerate its replacement plan”as a goal “75% of replacements in June 2022”says Dr. Caroline Semaille, Deputy Director General of the National Medicines Safety Agency.
On the Internet, hundreds of testimonies of anger or concern accumulate. Philips pleads a global shortage of components, and evokes the end of the year for the replacement of all devices. “Additional testing indicates that there is no increased risk of adverse health effects due to exposure to VOCs”, the group also indicates. A Canadian study tends to confirm these remarks, while specialists warn against the risk of abrupt cessation of treatment.