Noninvasive Critical Care Ventilator Market Projected to Grow

With increased prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, the use of noninvasive ventilation has increased significantly in the sub-acute and home care ventilator markets. These are the latest findings of medical research group InMedica (Wellingborough, United Kingdom).

In developed markets, there is an increased focus to reduce the burden of high-cost intensive care unit (ICU) departments on healthcare expenditure, with patients being moved out of the hospital sooner. A patient who is ventilated through a noninvasive device is able to move out of the ICU and into the home more quickly. Noninvasive ventilation also offers many advantages to the patient; they are able to speak and swallow, there is a decreased risk of infection in comparison to tracheotomy ventilation, and there is a reduced requirement for sedation. As a result, noninvasive ventilation is now considered as a standard of care, with invasive ventilation only being used if a patient is not compliant.

In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) market, combination invasive and noninvasive devices accounted for a larger proportion of revenues than in the Americas, at 94.5%. In the developing Asia Pacific market, combination invasive and noninvasive products accounted for the lowest proportion globally. Low uptake is the result of under-developed healthcare systems in a number of Asia Pacific countries, where the focus is to provide a basic level of care. However, as the market develops and the benefits of noninvasive ventilation are realized, this product segment is predicted to increase further.

In the United States, where hospitals are sensitive to readmittance, the noninvasive critical care ventilator market in particular is experiencing substantial growth. Combination invasive and noninvasive ventilators accounted for 79.4% of the Americas critical care revenues in 2011. Highlighting the decline of standalone invasive ventilators, this segment accounted for the smallest proportion, at only 5.8%.

As the use of noninvasive technology continues to grow, the ventilator masks market is forecast to grow faster. To reduce infection, a significantly higher proportion of disposable masks are used in the hospital segment. The hospital mask segment accounted for over 70% of global ventilator mask revenues in 2011, an estimated USD 106.7 million. InMedica forecasts unit shipments of standalone noninvasive critical care ventilators to exceed 12,000 units in 2016 – an increase of 31% from 2011.

“Greater acceptance of noninvasive technology and continued education means the noninvasive standalone ventilator segment is forecast to grow fastest, with revenues increasing by 13.9% over the forecast period in the EMEA,” said Nicola Goatman, an analyst at InMedica. “This indicates a more widespread utilization of this technology in ICU’s compared to the Americas region. This is partly due to Western Europe actively utilizing advances in technology to relieve pressure on healthcare systems.”

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