By John Wallace
The pressure ulcer prevention market is expected to eclipse $2.5 billion in 2020.
Transparency Market Research recently released the report “Pressure Relief Devices Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014-2020” in which the global pressure relief devices market was valued at $2.0 billion in 2013 and is estimated to reach a market value of $2.8 billion in 2020. The market will experience a compound annual growth rate of 5.2 percent from 2014 to 2020, according to the report.
Pressure ulcers, also called bedsores or decubitus ulcers, are often observed in geriatric people and hospital patients. They are common in acute respiratory patients and others who spend an extended period of time in bed. Pressure ulcers can be prevented by a number of support surface devices that include cushions, mattresses, specialty beds and overlays.
The report indicates that an increasing number of obese people and a growing focus on pressure ulcer prevention are prime factors driving the growth of the global pressure ulcer devices market. In addition, a growing geriatric population globally accentuates the demand for pressure relief devices. However, technical complexity, requirement of skilled personnel and the high cost of the devices are some factors restricting the demand of pressure relief devices, according to the authors of the Transparency Market Research report.
The low-tech device segment accounted for the largest share of the global pressure relief devices market in 2013. Foam-based mattress, gel-filled mattress and air-filled mattress are some of the low-tech pressure relief devices commercially available. In 2013, the foam-based mattress segment dominated the low-tech devices owing to easy availability, low technical complexity and comfort of the mattresses. However, gel-filled mattresses are anticipated to grow at the highest growth rate from 2014 to 2020. The growth of this market segment was supported by rising preference among patients for gel-filled mattresses, as utilization of these mattresses enables easy repositioning on the bed.
The dynamic air therapy bed segment of high-tech devices accounted for the largest share and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2014 to 2020. These products are highly efficient and effective in pressure ulcer treatment and those are factors driving the growth of this market segment, according to the report.
In 2013, North America accounted for the largest share in the global pressure relief devices market. Increasing prevalence of pressure ulcers, growing awareness and rising demand for various advanced mattresses is propelling the market growth of pressure relief devices in North America. For instance, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) stated that around 2.5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with pressure ulcers every year. Europe was the second largest market for pressure relief devices in 2013 in terms of revenue.
Some industry leaders include ArjoHuntleigh, AB (Innova Extra mattress), Covidien plc (Wings quilted premium under pads), Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. (NP50 Prevention Surface), Invacare Corp. (Invacare Softform Excel Mattress) and Stryker Corp. (PositionPRO).
