One of the major factors propelling the surge in the demand for point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) devices in the European Union (EU) is the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related and chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), in the region. As per the European Society of Cardiology, in 2017, the deaths caused due to CVDs came out to be 37% of the total deaths in the EU. The World Health Organization (WHO) had estimated the number of deaths caused by cancer to reach 1.4 million in the EU by the end of 2019, though the actual number might have been higher.
The soaring geriatric population in various countries in the EU is also massively pushing the demand for PoCUS devices. For instance, primary care physicians employ the use of these devices for non-invasively evaluating urinary incontinence in elderly people, screening patients for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and prostatic enlargement, and assessing cardiac function in outpatient settings. Driven by these factors, the EU PoCUS device market is projected to generate $230.9 million by 2024, growing with a 6.1% CAGR during 2019–2024 (forecast period).
In the EU, the highest adoption of PoCUS devices was witnessed in Germany in 2018. The main factors responsible for the high adoption rate of these devices in Germany are the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, mushrooming number of hospitals and diagnostic centers, and the rising healthcare expenditure in the country. Moreover, the country is home to a surging geriatric population, around 28.0% of its total population in 2017, according to the United Nations World Population Ageing Report, which is causing a huge surge in the demand for PoCUS devices, and thus the EU PoCUS device market advance in the country.
Therefore, it can be concluded that due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, soaring geriatric population, and rapid technological advancements in electronics, computing applications, and transducers, which have revolutionized ultrasound devices over the last few years, the demand for PoCUS devices is set to witness a huge surge in the coming years.
