Cardiovascular echocardiography is a type of medical imaging to examine the heart. It uses sound waves to create visual images of the heart. This testing procedure is usually performed on patients with suspected or known heart diseases. Apart from revealing the size and shape of the chambers and valves, the test also estimates the heart functioning by calculating the cardiac output, ejection fraction, and diastolic function. The cardiovascular echocardiogram can also detect cardiomyopathies. The injuries from the earlier heart attack can be clearly visualized using echocardiographs. The commonly used diagnostic test for detecting cardiac disorders is transthoracic cardiac ultrasound owing to its noninvasive nature. Further, the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases and the advantages of echocardiographic devices over other cardiac diagnostic procedures are noteworthy factors contributing to the growing cardiovascular echocardiography market size. A number of initiatives are being conducted to raise awareness regarding the avaliablility of various testing techniques for cardiovascular diseases. The 19th Annual Echo Meeting ‘ECHO NAGPUR 2023’ is a unique initiative by cardiologists to educate doctors and patients about recent developments in diagnostic technology. New-age echo provides improved images of the heart compared to a conventional electrocardiogram. It shows a detailed visual examination of the heart, making it a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions. The market is growing with the increasing geriatric population and the untapped potential of emerging economies. However, challenges associated with the use of echocardiography devices hinder the cardiovascular echocardiography market growth.
Increasing Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Drives Cardiovascular Echocardiography Market Growth
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the top 10 leading causes of death around the world; it affect more people than any other disease. The burden of CVD is rising worldwide at a significant speed, owing to various factors such as smoking, diabetes, obesity, and lifestyle changes. The other risk factors related to CVDs are high blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, and diabetes. The growing prevalence of various CVDs is triggering the need for improved diagnostic methods.
As per the report published by the World Heart Federation projects, over half a billion people globally are living with CVDs, accounting for 20.5 million deaths in 2021. According to the WHO, 17.9 million people die from CVD yearly, representing 32% of all deaths worldwide. As per the American Heart Association, almost half of all US adults have some kind of CVD. 1 out of every 5 deaths reported in the country is due to CVD. Over 130 million people, i.e., 45.1% of the US population, are predicted to have a type of CVD by 2035. Moreover, the UK Factsheet January 2022, published by the British Heart Foundation, shows that ~7.6 million people with CVD live in the UK. According to the same source, ~4 million men and ~3.6 million women were diagnosed with heart and circulatory diseases in the country in 2021.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 40 seconds, an American experiences a heart attack. Of the total 805,000 heart attack victims in the US reported annually, ~605,000 individuals have a heart attack for the first time. Globally, there are about 26 million heart failure patients and a prevalence of nearly 37.7 million due to undiagnosed cases. As per the Million Hearts 2021 data, ~1.5 million heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) and strokes occur in the US yearly.
Similarly, per the CDC 2022 estimates, 20.1 million US adults have coronary artery disease. In addition, the European Society of Cardiology reported that patients suffering from atrial fibrillation are five times more vulnerable to strokes. The excerpts of the data illustrate that 20–30% of overall stroke cases in the country are caused due to atrial fibrillation. There are many techniques to diagnose CVD, of which echocardiography is the most widely used. Echocardiography is necessary to evaluate cardiac function, diagnose heart disease, and detect embolic sources of stroke in patients. It also plays a significant role in the evaluation and management of patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Therefore, the growing number of patients with cardiovascular diseases across the world is likely to increase the demand for echocardiography, thereby driving the cardiovascular echocardiography market growth.
Cardiovascular Echocardiography Market: Segmental Overview
The cardiovascular echocardiography market is segmented into type, technology, and end user. Based on type, the market is categorized into transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, stress echocardiography, and fetal echocardiography. The transthoracic echocardiography segment held a significant cardiovascular echocardiography market share in 2022 and is estimated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030. Transthoracic echocardiography is the most common type of detection technique; it is painless and noninvasive, taking place entirely outside the body. A transducer device is placed on the patient’s chest over the heart. The transducer sends ultrasonic waves through the chest toward the heart. A computer interprets the sound waves as they bounce back to the transducer. This produces real-time detailed images of the heart (or blood vessels) that are displayed on a monitor.
Transthoracic echocardiography is a versatile tool that provides comprehensive information about cardiac structure and function. In addition, it can be used for monitoring and visualizing the catheter during the endomyocardial biopsy procedure. Transthoracic echocardiography is easily available and portable, with essentially zero risk of procedural complications compared to transesophageal echocardiography.
Cardiovascular Echocardiography Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments
Apex Heart and Vascular, Ultra-X Imaging, Metropolitan Heart Vascular Institute, Ultromics Limited, Corewell Health, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, University of Utah Health, Goshen Heart & Vascular Center, and Harefield Hospital are a few key companies operating in the market. These companies focus on product innovation strategies to meet evolving customer demands, along with maintaining their brand name in the cardiovascular echocardiography market.