European Markets for Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic Imaging Products

In Europe, the combination of changing demographics and economic pressures relating to the delivery of healthcare will continue to advance the role of imaging inthe practice of medicine for the foreseeable future. Factors that will fuel demand by patients and healthcare providers for noninvasive and invasive imaging tools for the screening, early detection, and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) include growth in the number of people living in the region (as well as those sufferingfrom diabetes and obesity), and the aging of the population in many countries with the subsequent rise in the prevalence of age-related cardiovascular conditions (such as valvular heart disorders and stroke). Imaging technologies continue to develop and change to meet the growing demands of modern healthcare requirements, with emphasis on improving the accuracy, efficiency, functionality, and speed of the instrumentation; increasing its accessibility; and lowering its cost.

The European market for imaging products used in the diagnosis of CVD is very broad and includes systems for conventional X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine imaging (NMI), and diagnostic ultrasound; devices for transcatheter imaging procedures such as angiography,electrophysiology (EP) studies, guidewire-based physiologic intravascular stenosis assessment, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS); and application-specific contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals (organic molecules with attached radionuclides [tracers]) to enhance the visibility and definition of cardiovascular system structures, delineate areas demonstrating abnormal metabolic activity, and highlight perfusion in organs including the brain and heart..

In Europe- which for the purposes of this report consists of the countries of France,Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (U.K.)- the combined volume of CVD- related diagnostic imaging procedures (noninvasive and invasive) is projected to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.6% during the forecast period covered by this report, climbing from approximately 42.03 million in 2007 to nearly 48.49 million in the year 2011. In 2007, Germany had the highest volume of CVD-related diagnostic imaging procedures with approximately 16.15 million, followed by France with 14.45 million, then the U.K. with approximately 5.18 million, Italy with 3.57 million, and Spain with 2.68 million. In the year 2011, it is expected that Germany will continue to lead the region in the number of CVD-relateddiagnostic imaging procedures performed with an estimated 18.61 million, followed in order by France with 16.63 million, the U.K. with 6.04 million, Italy with 4.12 million and Spain with 3.08 million.