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Increased Demand for Wireless Systems Bolsters North American Cardiac Monitoring and Diagnostic Services Markets Growth

Posted on: Monday, 25 June 2007, 09:05 CDT

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c60576) has announced the addition of the new Frost & Sullivan Report "North American Cardiac Monitoring and Diagnostic Services Markets" to their offering.

The Frost & Sullivan research service titled North American Cardiac Monitoring and Diagnostic Services Markets provides an overview of this market through estimates and forecasts of market revenues, unit shipments, and pricing analysis, along with an in-depth discussion of market drivers, restraints, industry challenges, strategies, and trends that are impacting the market. In this research service, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: resting ECG, stress testing, Holter monitoring, event monitoring, and pacemaker monitoring services.

The following technologies are covered in this research:

- ECG: The ECG is a graphical representation of the electrical activity of the heart. Since the beating of the heart is instigated by electrical impulses, electrodes placed on a patient's body can pick up these electrical signals, which are then amplified and filtered to produce the final output that is recorded electronically. The resulting waveform is known as the PQRST complex, which describes the depolarization and repolarization of the heart.

- Stress Testing: A cardiac stress test evaluates blood flow through the heart during applied stress. During such a test, the subject exercises using a treadmill or a bicycle to raise his/her heart rate, while being monitored. Heart conditions that might not manifest themselves during rest are likely to be exposed under stress, and can be monitored.

- Pacemaker Monitoring: Pacemaker follow-up is used by physicians to ascertain how a pacemaker is performing after implantation. The follow-ups themselves are defined by the physician. Two types of follow-ups are performed - one is an extensive check performed in a clinical setting, and the other is a less vigorous check that can be transmitted remotely through a phone line.

- Holter Monitoring: Holter monitoring provides a non-invasive ambulatory test that will continuously record an ECG for an extended period of time. Typically it is used over a 24 to 48 hour period. Holter monitoring is usually utilized when there are frequent arrhythmia symptoms such as palpitations, syncope or dizziness, or after post-cardiac damage.

- Event Monitoring: Cardiac event monitoring provides yet another type of non-invasive, longer period, outpatient monitoring for patients suspected to have arrhythmias. Event monitoring differs from holter monitoring in that the monitor is worn for a longer period of time, usually for about 30 days, and relies on some sort of patient activation or auto-triggering to start recording on the onset of symptoms. They are generally used on patients where the symptoms are more transient.

Market Overview

Continuing Decline in Reimbursement Creates Market Instability

North American cardiac monitoring service providers are facing some difficult times with ever declining reimbursement and the distinct possibility of larger decreases on the horizon. In addition, the heightened focus on price to gain a competitive advantage has depressed the market. With decreasing reimbursement rates lowering profit margins, an increasing number of hospitals will be inclined to utilize external service providers for information gathering and analysis. Some service providers even have their own interpretive physicians on roll to provide the service in its entirety.

Nevertheless, the continuing prevalence of cardiovascular disease and growth in patient populations will provide for the markets development. The ageing North American population, in particular, is expected to fuel demand for increased outpatient monitoring as instances of cardio vascular diseases (CVD) increase dramatically with age. "According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) statistics, while only about 5 to 10 percent of the population between 20 and 29 years of age is affected by CVD, this figure is close 70 to 80 percent in the over 75 years age bracket," notes the analyst of this research service. "Furthermore, the number of people over 65 in the United States is increasing by two or three million every year, making for a constantly expanding patient base."

Increased Demand for Wireless Systems Bolsters Market Growth

Wireless systems are fast penetrating the point-of-care market and are to a greater extent driving the ambulatory market. In this market, as in many others, patient compliance is a key component to successfully managing the disease. Toward this, wireless systems such as cell phone technology, can significantly improve compliance rates as they are less obtrusive than wire bound devices. Using a wireless device to transmit data back to the data processing center also eliminates many of the restrictions placed on the patient during the monitoring session. These benefits promise to increase overall compliance, and service providers that utilize this capability will have a distinct advantage in addition to persuading more healthcare providers to utilize this form of monitoring. Going forward, as these technological advancements further penetrate the market, they can be expected to generate greater revenues for ambulatory service providers.

By service type, the point-of-care market accounts for the majority of the revenues, with about 65 percent. The ambulatory market comprises the remaining 35 percent, but is likely to see faster growth over the forecast period. "Simplicity and ease of use are key to success in the cardiac monitoring and diagnostic services markets," says the analyst. "While some cardiac monitoring products are used by physicians or trained technicians, many ambulatory monitoring products are operated by the customer and hence demand intuitive, easy to use interfaces."

For more information, visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c60576

Source: Business Wire

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