Foley Catheter Market

Foley Catheter Market

The global foley catheter market is expected to be valued at US$ 1,565 million in 2023. The market is further anticipated to reach US$ 2,641 million expanding at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2033.

Hydrogel-coated Silicone Foley Catheters Take the Market by Storm

The foley catheter industry has witnessed significant changes over the years, with new trends emerging in the market. One of the latest trends in the industry is the increasing demand for hydrogel-coated silicone foley catheters. These catheters are coated with a layer of hydrogel that provides a more comfortable and less painful experience for patients. This trend has been driven by the growing focus on patient comfort and the need for better-quality catheters.

Aging Population and Increasing Prevalence of Urological Disorders Drive Demand for Foley Catheters

Here are some factors that are anticipated to drive the demand for foley catheters during the forecast period.

• One of the main factors is the growing prevalence of urinary incontinence and other urological disorders. This has led to a surge in patients requiring catheterization.
• The rise in the aging population has also contributed to the growing demand for foley catheters.
• As the population ages, the incidence of urinary tract infections and other urological problems increases, further fueling the demand for catheters.

Product Innovation and Home Healthcare Services Boost Sales of Foley Catheters

The foley catheter market is driven by several factors, including product innovation, increased adoption of advanced catheter technologies, and the growing demand for home healthcare products. Pure silicone foley catheters have gained significant popularity due to their non-allergenic properties and are being preferred over traditional latex foley catheters. The demand for foley catheters is also driven by the increasing prevalence of hospital-acquired infections, which has led to the adoption of catheterization procedures that reduce the risk of infections.

Increasing Awareness and Availability of Advanced Technologies Drive the Adoption of Foley Catheters

The adoption of foley catheters is being boosted by the growing awareness about urological disorders and the importance of timely intervention. Healthcare professionals are increasingly recommending the use of catheters as a part of the treatment plan for urinary incontinence and other urological disorders. The use of advanced catheter technologies, such as hydrogel-coated silicone foley catheters, is also driving the adoption of catheters by providing a more comfortable experience for patients. The increasing availability of home healthcare products and services is also boosting the adoption of foley catheters as patients can receive catheterization services in the comfort of their homes.

Sabyasachi Ghosh

Principal Consultant

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Historical (2017 to 2022) and Forecast (2023 to 2033) Market Outlook for Foley Catheter

The foley catheter industry held a valuation of US$ 1,497.6 million in 2022 with a CAGR of 4.7% from 2017 to 2022.

Future Market Insights predicts a positive growth outlook for the foley catheter industry. The market is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of urinary incontinence and neurogenic bladder, which is expected to fuel the demand for foley catheters. However, the availability of alternative catheter types such as intermittent catheters may pose a challenge to market growth.

Recent advances in the foley catheter market include the development of antimicrobial-coated catheters to reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). In addition, companies are investing in the development of compact and discreet catheters to improve patient comfort and ease of use.

The foley catheter industry is expected to hold a significant share of the overall urinary catheter market, which is estimated to reach US$ 4.5 billion by 2023. Foley catheter sales are expected to witness a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period.

Foley catheters are widely used for the management of urinary disorders in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and home care. They offer advantages such as reusability and versatility, which make them a preferred choice for long-term use. Moreover, foley catheters are considered one of the safest forms of catheterization for patients with urinary retention or other urological disorders.

Rising Prevalence of Urological Diseases

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) refers to an infection in any part of the urinary system, including the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidney. According to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), UTIs are the most common urological diseases, and they necessitate the usage of foley catheters. Furthermore, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15-25% of hospitalized patients receive a foley catheter every year. Likewise, 5-10% of nursing home residents, representing over 75,000 to 150,000 individuals, require foley catheters.

Along similar lines, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), states that the overall incidence of urinary retention is 4.5 to 6.8 per 1,000 men annually. Despite the usage of foley catheters, 70% of men are likely to likely have recurrent urinary retention within a week if the bladder is simply drained, thus necessitating the usage of foley catheters again. In AAPF's recent study, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) has been identified as the primary cause of urinary retention in men, being the cause in nearly 53% of cases.

Moreover, around 2 million doctor visits and more than 250,000 surgical procedures performed annually in the United States are attributed to BPH, which subsequently transmutes into the requirement for foley catheters. By the same token, neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal trauma, and strokes also lead to urological disorders, thereby further fueling the need for foley catheters.

Widening Base of Geriatric Population

The geriatric population has been identified as the prime consumer demographic of foley catheters, on the back of the relatively high incidence of urinary infections in the population aged 60 and above. Diseases such as urinary retention, BPH, bladder obstruction, urinary incontinence, and prostate cancer, have become highly common among the aged population, principally men. In addition to the diseases, the rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is exponentially high among older women, as compared to younger women.

According to the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), the prevalence of ASB is 1- 2% in young women and increases to 6-16% among women between 65 and 90 years of age, with the prevalence being huge among women above the age of 90, ranging 22-43%. Moreover, the proportion of ASB is higher among institutionalized patients, affecting 25 to 50% of women and 15 to 35% of men, as compared to non-institutionalized. These conditions require long-term usage of catheters, thus driving the sales in nursery homes and home care settings as well.

The census of the World Health Organization (WHO) projected that the world’s population aged 60 years and older is likely to cross the 2 billion mark by 2050, up from 900 million in 2017. This is expected to offer a tremendous growth opportunity to players manufacturing medical aids, including foley catheters.

Catheter-associated Infections: A Key Challenge

Although foley catheters improve the patient's quality of life and health, the risk of catheter-associated infections is hampering the adoption to an extent. According to NHSN, 75% of urinary tract infections acquired in hospitals are associated with catheters. By the estimates of the MSD manual, the likelihood of contracting bacteriuria is 3 to 10% every time the catheter is attached, with 10 to 25% of people developing severe symptoms of urinary tract infections and some developing sepsis.

On a similar note, the CDC noted that urinary tract infections account for more than 40% of hospital-acquired infections, primarily caused by the improper usage of catheters. To curb the incidence of these infections, the CDC has issued guidelines about the usage of catheters for appropriate indications and advises healthcare providers to remove foley catheters when they are no longer needed. This has also negatively impacted the patients' perception and is likely to hold back the adoption of foley catheters across healthcare institutions to an extent.

On the other hand, fluctuating prices are also posing a key challenge. Depending on factors such as the availability of raw materials and exports, the units and packs of foley catheters are priced at different levels across the globe. The volatile pricing of the devices is also likely to hinder bulk sales of foley catheters across the world.

Region-wise Analysis

North America Foley Catheters Market

North America is projected to spearhead the regional landscape of the global foley catheter market through the assessment period. The region's dominance is primarily attributed to the presence of a thriving healthcare sector in the United States coupled with high medical spending in the region.

The United States foley catheters industry is expected to reach US$ 756.7 million by the end of the forecast period in 2033, with a CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2033. Moreover, the prevalence of urinary tract infections in the region is comparatively high compared to other regions. For instance, a recent survey reported that urinary tract infection was the fourth most common infection, accounting for 12.9% of healthcare infections, and affecting 67.7% of these patients.

The Canada foley catheters industry is expected to reach US$ 102.1 million by the end of the forecast period in 2033, with a CAGR of 4.0% from 2023 to 2033. The subsequent spending on hospitalization and treatment of these diseases is likely to continue to fuel the sales of foley catheters. A report by NCBI revealed that more than 400,000 admissions were registered in the United States in 2011 due to the primary diagnosis of urinary tract infections, resulting in hospital charges of US$ 9.7 billion. Although foley catheters are used by only a portion of these patients, the need for them continues to grow year-on-year. On the back of this factor, North America is likely to remain the leading market for foley catheters.

Europe Catheters Market

Closely following the United States is Europe, which is poised to remain the second most lucrative region through the assessment period. Akin to North America, the growth of the region is driven by the soaring prevalence of urinary diseases and the support of the governments to develop novel medical aids. Germany is expected to see a CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2033, with a market size of US$ 111.7 million by the end of the forecast period in 2033.

A survey by the WHO found that a significant portion of urinary infection deaths is associated with indwelling catheterization. Indwelling catheterization extends the hospitalization of the patients, resulting in a direct cost of €2 billion for National Health Services. This has instigated the need for highly effective catheters with minimal side effects.

To eliminate the deaths and cost, healthcare bodies in the region have mandated period replacement of catheters, thereby propelling demand for a massive amount of units in hospitals and nursing centers. Backed by these facets, Europe is likely to remain the second most lucrative region.

Asia Pacific Catheters Market

Asia Pacific - comprising East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania - is posed to hold a prominent share of market value, owing to the growing burden of urinary diseases in the region.

China is expected to see a CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2033, with a market size of US$ 119.9 million by the end of the forecast period in 2033. Factors such as the high prevalence of hospital-acquired infections, rising awareness among patients and medical professionals, and increased spending on medical hygiene are also anticipated to boost the market in economies such as China.

Moreover, the region is highly populated with people aged above 60, who are the most vulnerable to urinary infections, which compels the usage of foley catheters. In the years to come, China is expected to be home to the geriatric population, which in turn, necessitates foley catheters for easy drainage of urine.

Product-wise Insights

2-way Catheters Remain Sought-after

The top product in the foley catheter industry is the 2-way catheter, which is expected to see a CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2033. 2-way catheters are expected to remain the most sought type of catheters and are likely to account for more than half of the overall value by the end of the forecast period. 2-way catheters are highly favored on the back of minimal mechanical complications during their placement in the bladder. On the other hand, 3-way catheters are expected to gain remarkable traction and rise in value at a higher CAGR, as they facilitate continuous bladder irrigation. Furthermore, 3-way catheters find application post-urological surgery or in cases of bleeding in the bladder or prostate tumor.

Latex and Silicon-based Catheter Demand Intact

Based on material, both latex and silicon-based foley catheters hold a share of near-equal proportions with the former accounting for a slightly higher share. Latex-based catheters gain an edge over their counterpart, on the back of their coatings of hydrogen silicon, silicone elastomer, and PTFE Teflon material. These materials aid in lowering urethral irritation, and encrustations, lower surface friction and improve the overall comfort of the patient. Likewise, the demand for silicon-based catheters is likely to remain high, backed by their longer lifespan, large diameters, and low risk of urinary tract infections.

Urinary Incontinence and Urethral Structure Key Indications

By indication, urinary incontinence, and urethral stricture are projected to cumulatively account for over half of the market value, with the former holding more than 1/3rd of the global value. This is attributed to the high prevalence of these diseases across the world, with urethral stricture affecting nearly 229 to 627 per 100,000 men in the United States alone. Similarly, chronic obstruction and neurogenic bladder are forecasted to collectively hold a quarter of global value, backed by the rising incidence of these conditions.

Hospitals to Remain Lucrative

Hospitals are the top end user of foley catheters, with a projected CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2033 The segment's dominance is attributed to high reliability and an increase in hospitalizations year-on-year. Along similar lines, long-term care facilities are likely to also remain a crucial end-use segment, with over 8 million people in the United States seeking services in long-term care facilities.

Blazing a Trail: Mapping the Fierce Terrain of Foley Catheters Industry Competition

The development of new product designs has been recognized as the key growth strategy adopted by market players to stay afloat amid cutthroat competition. On a similar note, restricting the prevalence of catheter-associated infections is likely to remain at the core strategy of innovations as manufacturers direct their efforts towards innovative designs. On these lines, an American medical technology manufacturer, C.R. Bard, employs silver-ion and antimicrobial coatings to its product line of foley catheters to eliminate the incidence of catheter-associated infections when used for long periods.

Besides, manufacturers are seeking approvals from regulatory bodies to boost their revenue prospects and brand visibility. On this premise, Safe Medical Design Inc., a United States-based organization, procured FDA approval for the commercialization of its new product, a signal catheter. The catheter has been designed to reduce urethral trauma as a result of premature balloon inflation during placement. Such innovations and approvals are likely to continue to boost the growth of the market.

Some recent developments in the market include

• Integer Holdings Corporation declared plans to increase its presence in Galway, Ireland in September 2021 by constructing a new manufacturing facility and a medical device invention in the Parkmore East district.
• To commercialize its urological products, Coloplast inked a three-year contract with Premier, Inc., a healthcare improvement firm based in the United States, in February 2019. Products for general urology include catheters, drainage systems, and various attachments.

Foley Catheters Market Report: Scope

Key Segments

Type:

• 2 Way
• 3 Way
• 4 Way

Material:

• Latex Foley Catheter

  • Hydrogel-coated Latex Foley Catheters
  • Silicon-coated Latex Foley Catheter
  • Silver-coated Latex Foley Catheters
  • PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) (Teflon)
  • Coated Latex Foley Catheters

• Silicon Foley Catheter

  • Hydrogel-coated Silicone Foley Catheters
  • Pure Silicone Foley Catheters
  • Silver-coated Silicon Foley Catheters
  • Others

Indication:

• Urinary Incontinence
• Urethral Stricture
• Chronic Obstruction
• Neurogenic Bladder
• Enlarged Prostate Gland/BPH
• Prostate Cancer
• Others

End User:

• Hospitals
• Long-term Care Facilities
• Others

Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• South Asia
• East Asia
• Oceania
• The Middle East and Africa