Peritoneal Dialysis Equipment Market Trends

Market Driver - Rising Prevalence of Kidney Disorders like ESRD and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Increasing prevalence of chronic kidney diseases especially ESRD and AKI has emerged as one of the key drivers of the peritoneal dialysis equipment market.

According to latest estimates, over 2 million people suffer from ESRD globally with growing numbers in developing nations due to lack of preventive healthcare and risk factors like diabetes and hypertension going uncontrolled. Peritoneal dialysis has established itself as an effective treatment modality for ESRD patients especially in home settings and as a permanent or temporary solution before kidney transplantation.

As per WHO, over 13 million cases of AKI are reported annually across the world. Even though majority of AKI cases improve with conservative treatment, the rising burden on healthcare systems due to longer hospital stays is undisputed.

Peritoneal dialysis provides a superior alternative for AKI treatment compared to hemodialysis by enabling continuous blood purification without the need for vascular access.

With growing prevalence of risk factors globally, the incidence of both chronic and acute kidney diseases is expected to rise significantly creating sustained demand in the peritoneal dialysis equipment market in coming years.

Market Driver - Growing Elderly Population and Prevalence of Diabetes and Hypertension

Rapid aging population coupled with rising trends of lifestyle diseases another key macro-driver influencing the peritoneal dialysis market size. According to latest UN population data, the share of world's population aged over 60 years will double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050.

Notably, over 80% of kidney failures occur in people aged over 60 as elderly people have higher kidney dysfunction risks. Global prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes has risen dramatically over the past few decades and now affecting over half billion people. Hypertension is even more widespread with an estimated 1.13 billion hypertensive population globally as per WHO estimates.

As these non-communicable diseases take a toll on kidney health in aging populace, both incidence and prevalence of CKD and ESRD has multiplied considerably. This has driven the need for simple dialysis modalities like peritoneal dialysis which allow self-care at home with ease and mobility.

Overall, confluence of demographic and disease trends has not only expanded the pool of dialysis patients but also the pool suitable for automated peritoneal dialysis to self-manage their healthcare requirements.

Market Challenge - Risk of Complications like Peritonitis with Peritoneal Dialysis

One of the key challenges faced by the peritoneal dialysis equipment market is the risk of various complications that can arise from using peritoneal dialysis as a treatment method. Peritonitis, which refers to the infection or inflammation of the peritoneum, is a severe complication that can occur in up to 30% of peritoneal dialysis patients over time.

When peritonitis sets in, patients often have to be hospitalized for IV antibiotic treatment. This disruption to treatment can significantly impact the patient's quality of life. The catheter used for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis also poses risks such as exit site or tunnel infection. If severe enough, such infections may require the catheter to be removed.

The risk of peritonitis and other infections means patients have to be very careful about aseptic techniques during dialysis exchanges. Minor contamination can potentially lead to inflammation. This risk factor and the treatment challenges associated with peritonitis cases can negatively impact the demand for peritoneal dialysis systems and affect growth for the peritoneal dialysis equipment market.

Market Opportunity - Technological Advancements in Dialysis Equipment for Market Opportunities

The peritoneal dialysis equipment market has strong opportunities arising from ongoing technological advancements in this field. One prominent area is the development of new peritoneal dialysis solutions that are more biocompatible and cause minimal inflammation or damage to the peritoneal membrane. This can help reduce the risk of peritonitis and other complications.

Another focus area is the integration of advanced connectivity features in dialysis cyclers and systems. The addition of wireless data transfer capabilities and remote monitoring functions allow patients to receive treatment while staying at home. This shift to ‘home hemodialysis’ is more convenient and improves patient comfort.

We are also seeing infusion sets and catheters equipped with anti-microbial properties to inhibit bacterial attachment and exit-site infection. With continued innovations, the dialysis treatment process will become safer and more effective over time. This provides ample opportunities for all stakeholders in the peritoneal dialysis equipment market to introduce novel products and clinical solutions.