The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at any given time, of every 100 hospitalized patients, around 10 in developing countries and 7 in developed countries acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI). As compared to high-income countries, the burden of HAIs is higher in low- and middle-income countries, especially in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), owing to the poor conditions of healthcare facilities in these nations. Thus, the surging incidence of HAIs is propelling the usage of medical disposables, worldwide.

In addition, the soaring geriatric population will also help the medical disposables market prosper during 2021–2030. The market was valued at around $51 billion in 2020 and it is projected to generate about $90 billion revenue by 2030. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the population of people aged 65 years and more will rise from 727 million in 2020 to 1.5 billion by 2050. Old people require long-term hospital care because they take a longer time to overcome chronic ailments such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and kidney failures. Moreover, increasing technological advancement in medical supplies for homecare settings is also fueling the consumption of medical disposables across the world. Nowadays, leading manufacturers of medical disposables are focusing on expanding their product portfolio by integrating advanced technologies in their offerings. At present, single-use or disposable medical devices are economically viable than cost-effective reusable medical supplies. The usage of disposable medical products and devices help in preventing the spread of infection and avoiding the complex and labor-intensive process of reusing the supplies. All these medical disposables are used in hospitals, research institutes, ambulatory surgery centers, assisted living centers and nursing homes, and clinics/physician offices for diagnosing diseases and treating chronic disease patients. In recent years, hospitals have been consuming the highest volume of medical disposables, due to the increasing patient footfall at such healthcare facilities, because they are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and employ trained professionals across disciplines. As sterilization of reusable devices enhances the procedure cost, the hospitals are using disposable devices to curtail their operation costs. According to P&S Intelligence, North America led the medical disposables market in the preceding years, due to the rising aging population, surging government expenditure on research and development (R&D), and increasing prevalence of HAIs, in the region. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that on any given day, around 1 in 31 hospital patients in the U.S. has at least one HAI. Moreover, the mounting healthcare costs and growing prevalence of chronic diseases will also create a huge requirement for medical disposables in North America.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 41 million global deaths are caused due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) annually. As per the organization, NCDs, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, respiratory diseases, and diabetes, account for 17.9 million, 9.3 million, 4.1 million, and 1.5 million fatalities, respectively, each year. Furthermore, the WHO reveals that in 2019, 1.7 million people were infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), globally. It also estimates that 229 million cases of malaria were recorded in 2019, worldwide.

Moreover, the booming aging population will propel the deployment of centralized and decentralized automated dispensing machines in hospitals and pharmacies in the upcoming years. As aging weakens the immune system, older people become highly susceptible to illnesses. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) predicts that the global population of people aged 65 years or more will increase from 727 million in 2020 to 1.5 billion by 2050. As the elderly population requires advanced care, their expanding population will create a massive requirement for such machines. At present, automated dispensing machine manufacturers, such as Becton, Dickinson and Company, B. Braun Melsungen AG, ScriptPro LLC, Swisslog Holding AG, TouchPoint Medical, Newlcon Oy, and Accu-Chart Plus Healthcare Systems Inc., are engaging in product launches to help improve medication compliance. For instance, in January 2020, TouchPoint Medical Inc. unveiled the next-generation medDispense series to deliver several dispensing options and security across one software platform. This machine supports bulk item storage, single-dose dispensing, and single-line-item control while using the medLogicTM software platform. Geographically, North America is expected to dominate the automated dispensing machines market in the future due to the surging geriatric population and improving healthcare infrastructure. For instance, according to the 2019 Profile of Older Americans published by the Administration for Community Living, operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the population of people aged 65 years and above in the U.S. will surge from 52.4 million in 2018 to 94.7 million by 2060. Therefore, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the growing geriatric population will boost the adoption of automated dispensing machines.

How is Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Fuelling Progress of Guidewires Market? Owing to the rising prevalence of chronic and lifestyle-associated diseases across the world, the demand for guidewires will boom in the coming years. A majority of the lifestyle-related diseases occur due to these behaviours- obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking. As per the obesity report published by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2015, 19.5% of the adult population was found to be obese across member countries. The obesity rate was less than 6% in the Japan and South Korea and as high as 30% in the U.S, Mexico, Hungary, and New Zealand.

The other major factor pushing the demand for guidewires, which are used while inserting a catheter into the body, is the increasing need for minimally invasive surgeries such as coronary guidewire treatment owing to the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the developed nations. As per a report published by the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) in 2015, the demand for minimally invasive cardiac surgeries has increased rapidly over the last 10–15 years. As per Eurostat, the number of laparoscopic colectomy procedures per 100,000 people increased from 26.4 to 29.8 from 2010 to 2015. The major trends currently being observed in the guidewires market are the rising need for interventional procedures in the emerging economies and rapid advancements and innovations in guidewires throughout the world. Since the last few years, there has been a massive surge in the demand for coronary procedures in India. As per the data published in coronary interventional registry set up by the National Interventional Council (NIC), Cardiological Society of India, 177,240 Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedures were performed in the country in 2012. Moreover, there was a 16.4% growth in PCI procedures conducted in India from 2011 to 2012. Globally, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is expected to register the fastest growth in the usage of guidewires during the forecast period. The main factors responsible for this rapidly rising utilization of guidewires in APAC are the increasing incidence of chronic diseases and lifestyle-related disorders, soaring medical tourism, and rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure in the region. As per the International Diabetes Federation Atlas, India and China are amongst the top two nations in the world with the largest number of diabetic patients in the age group of 20–79 years. Hence, it can be concluded that due to the increasing occurrence of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases and the burgeoning need for minimally invasive surgical procedures across the world, the demand for guidewires will surge in the coming years.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas Ninth edition 2019, approximately 700 million people within the age group of 20–79 years will be living with diabetes by 2045. The report also says that around 374 million people are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that cancer caused around 10 million deaths in 2020. The WHO also forecasts that by 2030, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) related deaths will rise over 23.6 million. The increasing incidence of such chronic diseases is augmenting the need for diagnostic imaging systems.

As these diseases are highly prevalent among the elderly population, the booming geriatric population will fuel the diagnostic imaging systems market at a CAGR of 5.8% during 2020–2030. The market was valued at $38.9 billion in 2019 and it is projected to reach a revenue of $70.0 billion by 2030. As per the World Population Ageing 2019 report published by the United Nations (UN), the population of people aged 65 years or above will grow to 1.5 billion by 2050. Old people require extensive care, as they are highly susceptible to chronic illnesses, owing to their low immunity levels. Currently, diagnostic imaging systems manufacturers are focusing on producing X-ray imaging systems, owing to the extensive use of these systems in various medical application areas, such as dentistry, orthopedics, and cardiology. Whereas, in the coming years, manufacturers will be selling nuclear imaging systems at a rapid pace, due to the surging cases of cancer. These systems are being increasingly adopted for cancer staging and treatment. Additionally, manufacturers are also involved in the production of ultrasound systems, computed tomography (CT) scanners, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. According to P&S Intelligence, North America dominated the diagnostic imaging systems market in the recent past, due to the surging incidence of chronic disorders and soaring healthcare expenditure in the region. Moreover, the presence of a large number of modern diagnostic centers and hospitals also augmented the use of such systems in North America. Whereas, Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to adopt these systems at the highest rate in the foreseeable future. This can be ascribed to the rising prevalence of chronic ailments and the booming number of diagnostic imaging centers across the region. Thus, the escalating cases of chronic diseases and booming geriatric population will augment the need for diagnostic imaging systems in the coming years.

On account of the changes in lifestyle, tobacco and alcohol abuse, environmental factors, and genetic predisposition, the prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is rising. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), around 9.6 million deaths in the world are caused due to cancer each year. The organization also states that CVDs account for more than 17.9 million deaths across the world. Surgeons use vascular imaging systems to detect such diseases, as these systems can diagnose blockages in the veins, varicose veins, weakening of the arteries and veins, plaque formation, and blood clots.

Old people undergo vascular imaging tests more than young people. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that in the U.S., people aged 65 years and above undergo these tests twice as compared to individuals within the age group of 30–59 years. Therefore, with a boom in the aging population, the volume of vascular imaging procedures will escalate in the coming years. According to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, the global population of people aged 65 years and above will reach 1.5 billion by 2050. Thus, the vascular imaging systems market will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.7% during 2017–2023.

Additionally, healthcare facilities such as hospitals, diagnostic centers, and specialty clinics also deploy X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and nuclear imaging systems, including single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), to diagnose vascular diseases. The widescale deployment of these systems has encouraged medical device companies, such as Hitachi Ltd., Fujifilm Corporation, Siemens AG, Carestream Health, Canon Inc., General Electric Company, Carestream Health Inc., Esaote S.P.A, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and Shimazdu Corporation, to manufacture advanced variants and target more customers. According to P&S Intelligence, North America adopts the largest number of vascular imaging devices and equipment due to the growing awareness regarding imaging techniques in the region. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) vascular imaging systems market will exhibit the fastest growth in the foreseeable future owing to the surging incidence of CVDs and cancer. Moreover, European countries, including Germany, France, and the U.K., utilize a large number of vascular imaging products due to the increasing cases of life-threatening ailments. Thus, with the growing elderly population and escalating incidence of CVDs and cancer, the deployment of vascular imaging systems will soar in the foreseeable future.

The International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Diabetes Atlas Ninth edition 2019 reveals that 374 million individuals are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and over 1.1 million adolescents and children are living with type 1 diabetes globally. The IDF also forecasts that the number of diabetic patients aged 20–79 years will rise from 463 million in 2019 to 700 million by 2045. These people often suffer from chronic wounds, as diabetes hinders the rapid healing of wounds, thereby leading to the development of diabetic foot ulcers. Thus, the surging incidence of diabetic foot ulcers will help the negative pressure wound therapy devices market progress at a CAGR of 7.7% during 2020–2030. According to P&S Intelligence, the market revenue will grow from $2,248.1 million in 2020 to $4,698.4 million by 2030. Additionally, the rising cases of burns will also create a huge requirement for NPWT devices in the forthcoming years. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 180,000 burn-related deaths are recorded every year across the globe.

In recent years, NPWT device manufacturers have engaged in mergers and acquisitions to meet the needs of hospitals and home-care settings. For example, in April 2019, Lohmann & Rauscher GmbH & Co. KG acquired the assets of Médical Textile Ariégeois, a French compression company, to expand its compression product portfolio. Other medical device companies undertaking mergers and acquisitions include Alleva Medical Ltd., Medela AG, Carilex Medical GmbH, Baxter International Inc., DeRoyal Industries Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., and Shandong Weigao Xinsheng Medical Devices Co. Ltd. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is expected to adopt a substantial volume of NPWT devices in the foreseeable future, on account of the rising geriatric population, increasing number of traumatic wounds and burns, and booming population in the region. For instance, the Australian and New Zealand Burn Association (ANZBA) states that nearly 50,000 burn victims are admitted to hospitals in Australia each year. Similarly, the WHO estimates that over 1,000,000 individuals in India are severely or moderately burnt every year. Thus, the soaring cases of diabetes and burns will facilitate the adoption of NPWT devices in the upcoming years.

In North America, healthcare providers must regularly maintain their medical equipment due to the presence of a stringent regulatory framework. This is because medical equipment is used multiple times a day, which makes it prone to breaking down. For example, imaging systems, including endoscopes, ultrasound systems, and X-ray systems, are used in various clinical applications, and for enhancing their life and maintaining the accuracy of the results they provide, they require constant and proper maintenance.

Maintenance and calibration services also help in preventing the various infections caused due to the usage of unmaintained and unhygienic medical devices during surgeries and other procedures. Thus, the increasing emphasis on cleanliness in healthcare facilities will take the North American ISOs medical device and equipment maintenance and calibration services market from $1,468.8 million in 2019 to $3,612.9 million by 2030, at an 8.9% CAGR. Moreover, the World Health Organization has issued a few guidelines that focus on equipment maintenance, for controlling the spread of infections.

These and all other devices used in medical settings can be manual or automated, of which automated systems generate a higher demand for regular maintenance and calibration. It is ascribed to the government’s increasing financial support for healthcare automation. In addition, the continuous technological advancements in automation solutions and surging requirement for the reproducibility and accuracy of these devices are propelling their demand. Moreover, since automated devices are more complex than manual ones, healthcare providers choose to get them serviced by experts, rather than doing it in-house.

Hence, with 951 community hospitals owned by local and state governments and 207 hospitals owned by the Federal Government, the U.S. will continue to be the larger market for medical device and equipment maintenance and calibration services by ISOs in North America over this decade. According to P&S Intelligence, it will also be due to the presence of established medical device manufacturers and ISOs in the U.S. and rising technological advancements in diagnostic tests. Therefore, the rising awareness about preventing infections by maintaining medical devices is propelling the demand for regular maintenance and calibration of medical equipment in North America, which is being increasingly met by ISOs, instead of OEMs and hospitals’ in-house staff.