Expanding European Market for Noninvasive Ventilators

Innovative interfaces are the key to maintaining revenues in the European market for noninvasive ventilators and interfaces.

The increasing incidence of obesity, an aging population, and efforts to improve diagnosis are expanding the sleep apnea market in Europe. As a result, the sleep apnea market--the largest segment of the noninvasive ventilation market--is set to grow and further boost demand levels. This is having a positive effect on the uptake of non-invasive ventilators. However, increased market size is being accompanied by price erosion due to pressure from financially constrained healthcare providers. To maintain or increase revenues, manufacturers will need to develop innovative interfaces for use with the ventilators, which generally have a good margin and sell in larger volumes. These are the latest findings of Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, CA, USA), an international consulting firm.

Two important factors will need to be addressed in terms of interfaces: the amount of time it takes to fit the device and patient compliance. Patented devices that best attend to these two issues currently dominate the market. However, it is important for manufacturers to assess their position within the interface segment. Innovative devices that are easy to fit and improve patient compliance stand poised to capture market share from the current leaders.

"The future of noninvasive ventilators lies in the homecare market,” said Ruth Sharples, a research analyst with Frost & Sullivan. "The sleep apnea segment will experience highest growth rates for non-invasive ventilators.”

Frost & Sullivan found that the European markets for noninvasive ventilators and their interfaces earned revenues of U.S.$371 million in 2005 and estimates this will reach $470 million in 2012.



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