Angio Suites Market Trends

Market Driver - Increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disorders like coronary artery disease and stroke

The rising cases of cardiovascular diseases across the world has become a major concern for healthcare systems. Cardiovascular disorders like coronary artery disease and stroke have established themselves as one of the top causes of mortality. Coronary artery disease mainly occurs due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Over time, this plaque hardens and narrows the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow. At times, the arteries may suddenly become completely blocked, causing a heart attack. Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain gets disrupted leading to loss of brain functions.

A combination of factors like sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, smoking, increasing stress levels, obesity and genetics have contributed to the increasing prevalence of these disorders. Recent studies reveal that coronary artery disease remains the single largest cause of death across both developed and developing nations. As per estimates by the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases account for over 17 million deaths globally each year. The figures are particularly alarming in developing economies where heart disease related fatalities are projected to rise significantly in the coming decades owing to rapid urbanization and changing risk factors. Many developing countries are also experiencing a shift towards younger age groups getting affected by these non-communicable diseases.

Given the threat posed by cardiovascular disorders on human health and lives, there is growing focus on improved diagnostics and treatment. Angiography procedures have emerged as a widely used and effective diagnostic method to evaluate the arteries of the heart or brain. Interventional techniques like angioplasty and stenting are commonly recommended for restoring blood flow if blockages are detected through angiography. The rising disease burden has led to greater utilization of specialized rooms called angiography suites across hospitals and clinics for performing such image-guided cardiovascular procedures. In many markets, hospitals are actively investing in advanced angiography equipment and upgrading existing facilities to handle the growing patient volumes seeking diagnosis and treatment. This growing emphasis on quality care for cardio-vascular illnesses through angiography is fueling the expansion of the angio suites market.

Market Driver - Rise in the global diabetic population along with an aging demographic

Diabetes has become one of the significant global health challenges of current times due to increasing prevalence. As per estimates by the International Diabetes Federation, around 537 million adults around the world were living with diabetes in 2021 and the figures are projected to rise to 783 million by 2045. Long-standing cases of diabetes significantly increase the risks of cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease and strokes through various pathways. Elderly people have a higher probability of developing type 2 diabetes and also tend to harbor the disease for longer periods without control. This makes them more vulnerable to associated macrovascular complications.

At the same time, improvements in healthcare have enabled people to lead longer lives across the world. A rapidly growing chunk of the global population now falls in the category of the elderly and very elderly. An aging demographic presents unique healthcare needs and challenges. Older age further exacerbates the risks from diabetes and complicates its management. Most health systems lack infrastructure as well as specialists to handle the unique needs of geriatric patients. As a result, senior citizens are at an even greater risk of heart diseases compared to the general population.

In light of the growing threat from diabetes and aging populations in various regions, there is increased emphasis on timely diagnosis and effective management of diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications. Hospitals and clinics are conducting aggressive screening programs to identify high-risk individuals. Any anomalies detected through non-invasive tests are thoroughly evaluated through angiography. Growing need for such specialized cardiac examinations and minor procedures among diabetic and elderly patients is driving demand for well-equipped angiography facilities and modern angio suites. Several hospital networks are adopting proactive strategies to upgrade their infrastructure with angiography labs to address the unique healthcare needs of this demographic vulnerable to heart disorders.

Market Challenge - Lack of healthcare infrastructure in low-income countries

The angio suites market faces significant challenges in low-income countries due to lack of proper healthcare infrastructure. Most low-income nations struggle to develop basic healthcare facilities due to resource constraints. Setting up well-equipped angio suites requires large investments in medical equipment, training of specialists and establishing dedicated procedure rooms. This puts such advanced diagnostic and interventional capabilities out of reach for many countries with inadequate funding for the healthcare sector. Even if funds can be mobilized to procure angio suites, maintaining them and ensuring continuous supply of consumables is a huge task without supporting infrastructure. This gap is further accentuated in rural areas which do not have access to even primary care facilities. Unless healthcare infrastructure is strengthened in parallel, introducing high-end angio suites alone will have limited impact in terms of access and adoption in underdeveloped regions. Tackling the root causes of lack of infrastructure needs coordinated efforts from governments as well as global health organizations to assist low-income nations.

Market Opportunity - Technological advancements in angio suites, such as the integration of Direct to Angio Suite (DTAS) technology

The angio suites market is poised to benefit tremendously from ongoing technological advancements. One such promising innovation is the integration of Direct to Angio Suite (DTAS) technology that allows angiograms and other interventional imaging to be performed directly in the angio suite without needing backup storage systems or secondary review workstations. DTAS solutions enable top quality images and live guidance for interventional procedures using dedicated hardware and software. This improves workflow efficiency within busy cath labs and cardiovascular imaging centers. DTAS technology also enhances collaboration as angiographic images can be viewed real-time by multiple physicians from any location for timely decision making. Being a disruptive technology, DTAS solutions are likely to transform angio suite design and functionality in the future. Leading OEMs are already introducing DTAS-enabled angio suites with advanced flat panel detectors and specialized consoles. This reflects the vast scope of technological upgrades in angio suites to deliver optimized patient outcomes.