Bone Densitometer Market: Technology Impacts Effective Expansion

By Akhil Nair

Bone densitometry is a test that utilizes a slight dose of ionizing radiation to determine bone loss and the number of minerals and calcium in bones. Over the years, several technologies have been incorporated for bone densitometry like computer-assisted & ultrasound densitometers, integrated digital detectors, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Accordingly, the growing use of densitometer products is attributed to the rise in accident cases, the increasing number of osteoporosis cases, and the availability of new bone densitometer products.

As a result, the increased patient count and the surging number of specialty clinics and hospitals enable growth opportunities. Specialty clinics are the fastest-growing end-user in the market. This is because bone densitometers are utilized in specialized clinics for determining fracture risks. In addition, the increased number of bone-related disorders has facilitated the surging use of bone densitometer products globally.

Growth Analysis | Size, Share & Global Performance

The global bone densitometer market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.30% during the forecast period, 2022-2030, given the increased number of technologies making in-roads into the market. Additionally, the market consolidation has been particularly compelling within the North America and Asia-Pacific region with regard to revenue share and CAGR, respectively.

Given the increased availability of DXA, the growing demand for minimally invasive devices, and government initiatives in terms of bone density measurement awareness programs, Asia-Pacific is set to be the fastest-growing region in the global market.

On the other hand, North America holds the highest share in the global scenario. The advancements in new technologies in bone densitometry, the increased availability of new bone densitometer products, and advanced therapeutic and diagnostic procedures contribute to its growth prospects.

Owing to the presence of global and regional players in many countries worldwide, the market for bone densitometers is highly competitive. Some of the key players operating in the market include GE Healthcare, Echolight Spa, Diagnostic Medical Systems Group, Eurotec Systems Srl, etc. They employ various strategic business activities such as partnerships, product launches, mergers, and acquisitions to hold their market position.

Technological Advancements: Global Trend

The bone densitometer is also known as a DXA machine. It is a simple, non-invasive system that determines the decrease, fragility, future fracture risks, osteoporosis, and osteopenia. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use in 1988. It can complete measurements in 5 minutes with minimum radiation exposure.

Technological advancements in DXA include original pencil-beam densitometers moving into narrow fan-beam densitometers, enabling swifter scan times and enhanced resolution. This further raises the scanning power and measurement accuracy. Such aspects are estimated to offer growth opportunities for bone densitometry.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technology had the largest revenue share of 68.66% in 2021

DEXA measures bone mineral density using spectral imaging. The increasing demand for DEXA is due to the rising osteoporosis incidences and the growing demand for minimally invasive diagnostic procedures. It is extensively used in hospitals for diagnosing several bone-related disorders. Additionally, it is used to assess other skeletal conditions like joint replacements and arthritis.

Further, the segment growth is attributed to the increasing initiatives and awareness programs by non-government and government organizations. These entail creating awareness about osteoporosis and its effects. Moreover, they are educating people about early detection methods like DEXA scans. Such aspects boost its market demands.

Market by Application: Lucrative Prospects

Based on our study, the global market scope includes the segmentation analysis of application, end-user, and technology.

The application segment encompasses conducive growth prospects, with increasing R&D activities in the pharmaceutical industry, the surging adoption of bone densitometer products, and the rising product approvals.

Osteoporosis held the largest revenue share of 34.45% in 2021

One of the major growth drivers of the bone densitometer market is the prevalence of osteoporosis in menopausal women. Osteoporosis is caused by low estrogen levels, which is the case with post-menopausal women. For instance, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, almost 200 million women are impacted by osteoporosis globally.

In addition, the low-quality lifestyles and the decreased intake of essential nutrients have given rise to conditions like low bone density, which raises the risk of bone fractures. As per the International Osteoporosis Foundation, over 320,000 hip fractures are diagnosed every year in North America. Bone mineral density tests help check for osteoporosis, and a DEXA scan aids in assessing risk factors of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Thus, the incorporation of advanced technologies offers lucrative growth opportunities to the overall global market.