KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- A new report finds that an anticipated increase in chronic kidney disease will drive an increased need for lithotripsy
- Integration of artificial intelligence in lithotriptors makes them an increasingly precise and effective kidney stone treatment option.
- Given its outpatient nature, lithotripsy has favorable insurance reimbursement policies.
Lithotripsy is a non-invasive kidney stone treatment that uses shock waves to break up the stones so they can be passed naturally through urination. And interestingly, according to a new report by Precedence Research, it’s gaining in popularity as the preferred treatment option.
According to the report, which is detailed here by Grand View Research, the global lithotripsy devices market is projected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2025 to approximately $2.62 billion by 2034. There are several reasons cited as the driving this anticipated growth.
Key Factors for Lithotripsy Growth
- Aging Population: According to the World Health Organization, the global population of people age 60 and older will double by 2050. That means there will be approximately 2.1 billion people who are 60 years old or older. As we age, so too does our risk of developing kidney stones. So with the increased population and the increased risk of kidney stones as we age, it stands to reason that lithotripsy would also rise in popularity as the preferred treatment option given its non-invasive nature. Source
- Advancements in Technology: Artificial intelligence in increasingly being utilized in the field of medicine for everything from improved scheduling efficiency to drug and treatment developments. It’s also being integrated into lithotripsy. AI-driven imaging and monitoring improve the efficacy and accuracy of kidney stone blasting via lithotripsy, thereby increasing favorable outcomes.
- Outpatient Procedures are Favored by Insurance: Given the outpatient nature of lithotripsy, which requires moderate sedation and little else, patients can get treated and be on their way. This simple treatment option is preferred and, in fact, favored by insurance companies in terms of reimbursement policies.
What’s Driving the Rise of Chronic Kidney Disease?
The rising number of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is indisputably the driving factor behind the anticipated boom in lithotripsy. But what’s causing the increase in CKD?
Major risk factors continue to be diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and family history of CKD. Additionally, though, and perhaps largely overlooked, is climate change. In fact, the rising global temperature and extreme heat driven by the climate crisis are risk factors for developing kidney stones. (Source) People who work outdoors – landscapers, roofers, agricultural workers — and those exposed to prolonged heat exposure and dehydration have an increased risk for kidney stones and other kidney-related illnesses.
Why You Should Consider Lithotripsy for Kidney Stone Treatment
Lithotripsy offers several advantages over traditional surgical methods for treating kidney stones:
- Non-Invasive: Lithotripsy uses shock waves to break up stones. It’s non-invasive, which dramatically reduces the risk of complications and promotes faster recovery.
- Outpatient Procedure: Lithotripsy treatments can be performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day.
- High Success Rates: Advancements in technology have improved the precision and effectiveness of lithotripsy, leading to high success rates in stone removal.
- Minimal Discomfort: The procedure is generally well-tolerated, with minimal discomfort and a lower risk of infection compared to invasive surgeries like ureteroscopy.
If you or a loved one are in need of kidney stone treatment, get in touch with us. Fill out this contact form, and one of our specialists will follow up within one business day.