How are Government Initiatives Propelling North American Defibrillators Market?

One in every four deaths, i.e. 647,000 deaths in the U.S., are a result of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If the heart is still beating, but in an arrhythmic pattern, a defibrillator is used to treat it. The device sends an electric shock, which neutralizes a large amount of the current coming from the heart’s natural pacemaker, to allow the sinoatrial node to resume its normal functioning. Arrhythmias can be fatal if not stopped immediately, especially ventricular fibrillation (v-fib), during which the body has no pulse.

These devices come in two variants: external defibrillators and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). External ones are commonly seen at hospitals and operated by medical professionals, while ICDs are implanted inside the body, for regular cardiac care. Of these, ICDs have witnessed higher uptake, on account of the technological advancements in these instruments and rising incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). In the coming years, the external variants are predicted to witness a more rapidly increasing uptake.

A key trend in the region is itself the rising adoption of automated external defibrillators (AED). The government, at the national and state/province levels, is taking initiatives to install public-access defibrillators (PAD), which are mostly AEDs, for the use of general public, in situations of emergency. Areas which witness a high footfall, such as schools and colleges, train stations, airports, shopping centers, leisure centers, and malls, are being rapidly equipped with AEDs, so that if anyone suffers a heart issue, bystanders can use the device to restore their sinus rhythm, until medical help arrives.

For instance, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation funded several schools, under its You Can Save a Life at School AED Grant” program, to procure AEDs, in February 2016. AEDs are quite easy to use as they not only measure the voltage required to neutralize the abnormal current flowing through the heart, but also apply it themselves. On the contrary, manual defibrillators measure the voltage required, but the users have to turn the knobs on the device and apply it to the heart, through the paddles.

Aging is among those few aspects of life upon which human being have no control at all, despite of all the technological advancements. In scientific terms, aging is the impact of the accumulation of an extensive range of molecular and cellular damage over time, which results in gradual decrease in mental and physical capacity, a rising risk of disease, and ultimately, death. Some of the common conditions by which aged people suffer include beck & neck pain and osteoarthritis, hearing loss, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, dementia, diabetes, and cataracts and refractive errors. More often than not, aged people are likely to suffer from multiple conditions at once.

The geriatric population is increasing across the globe, including North America. In 2017, the number of people aged 60 years or above in North America was 79 million, and this number is further predicted to increase to 123 million in 2050. It has already been established the aged population is susceptible to suffering from heart conditions, the treatment process often creates need for defibrillators, which restore the normal heartbeat by sending an electric shock to the heart. These devices are utilized for preventing or correcting an arrhythmia and also for restoring the heart’s beating if it stops suddenly.

Since these devices serve quite an important function in different medical settings, manufacturers are increasingly trying to focus on advancing their mechanism. Some of the innovations that have taken place in the field include the development of implanted and transvenous defibrillators, which can sit inside the body and deliver an electric shock as per the necessity of the person. Other than these, the development of automated external defibrillators has changed the game in medical settings. This device has a built-in computer which assesses a heart’s rhythm, determines whether defibrillation is needed, and then administers the necessary level of electric shock. Such advances are resulting in the rising adoption of defibrillators.

Within the region, the demand for defibrillators is expected to increase inconsiderably in Canada, which is ascribed to the prising government support in the form of initiatives and funding in order to increase the awareness among people and provide efficient training on defibrillation. Apart from this, a large number of local suppliers for defibrillators are present in the country and the surging number of spinocerebellar ataxia cases are also contributing significantly to the growth of the North American defibrillators market.

Hence, the demand for defibrillators in North America is growing because of the surging geriatric population and technological advancements.

Presently, the U.S. is the larger contributor to the North American defibrillators market, on account of the increasing prevalence of CVDs, government initiatives aimed at making people aware about defibrillation, and presence of numerous companies offering these products. In the years to come, the adoption of defibrillators is expected to pick up quickly in Canada as well, due to almost similar reasons which lead to their high sale in the U.S.

Hence, as people realize the importance of defibrillators, and governments keep up their efforts to make them easily accessible to the public, their uptake in North America will keep rising.