The global market for Pressure Ulcer Relief Products is projected to reach US$6.9 billion by the year 2027, trailing a CAGR of 5.9% over the analysis period 2020 through 2027. Providing care for chronic wounds is highly prevalent and involves enormous economic costs for the health care system. With the world`s population rapidly aging, the number of long-term care facilities, hospice are growing in parallel. In the United States, the number of hospice care agencies is growing and stands at approximately 5,100 as of the year 2020. Over 65.6% of hospice care agencies are with for-profit ownership. Bed sores also known as decubitus ulcers are a major cause of mortality in bedridden/immobile patients in long-term care facilities. Stage IV decubitus significantly raises the risk of developing life threatening complications. In addition to hospice, pressure sores are also prevalent in intensive care units accounting for 18.8% of all pressure ulcer cases in the country. It is estimated that around 15% of Medicare beneficiaries in the US suffer from a chronic infection or wound on an annual basis. These wounds are most commonly due to high blood pressure, arterial or venous insufficiency, or diabetes, increasing the co morbidity load in patients and making them more vulnerable to death by COVID-19 infection. In addition, chronic wounds significantly enhance the infection risk as well as incidences of hospitalization, representing a significant portion of the healthcare cost for diabetes patients. Chronic wound patients typically receive treatment in all healthcare settings. The most protocol-driven and organized care is generally provided in the hospital outpatient department (HOPD), or the wound center. Chronic wound patients are often treated on a weekly basis at these centers, where apart from care, other parameters such as blood glucose and vital are also measured along with performing triage for other non-wound-related symptoms.

Amid the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, acute care facilities and hospitals are under pressure to modify their standard operating procedures to effectively cater to virus infected patients admitted in specially designed isolation wards. The COVID-19 pandemic has been posing significant challenges in delivering care to chronic wound patients in out-patient units. Due to the fact that most wound centers are generally located inside a hospital, certain hospitals have closed down their wound centers due to safety concerns of the patients. In some cases, the centers have been closed because their services have been categorized as non-essential or due to the hospital`s move of limiting the number of outpatients and visitors inside the hospital premises. In certain cases where wound centers are functioning, they face staffing shortages as some healthcare providers have been assigned for pandemic response. It is expected that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the wound patients and the overall healthcare system would last for the at least the next 18 months. Individuals with chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, arterial ulcers, venous ulcers, and pressure ulcers, many of whom suffer from other chronic conditions such as Type II diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, among others are at high risk for increased mortality and morbidity in case the access to wound care is discontinued abruptly. The risk of disruptions in the care of chronic wound patients can potentially lead to several adverse outcomes, such as hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and amputations. For keeping wound patients safer within their homes, federal agencies, such as the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), are taking steps for promoting medical care delivery to patients at their homes.

In the post pandemic period, the growth in the market will continue to be driven by the rise in mobility disorders among the aging population as a result of stroke, neurological disorders, and orthopedic conditions. Given the growing healthcare burden associated with treating medical complications related to pressure ulcers and chronic wounds, there is growing emphasis on implementing best practices for ulcer prevention and management. The market is also expected to benefit from the development of topical pharmacological products with platelet-derived growth factors; and the continuous focus shed on researching the use of biophysical agents such as electrical stimulation, electromagnetic agents, pulsed radio frequency energy and phototherapy in the management of ulcers. The emphasis on prevention will drive development of therapeutic mattresses to reduce ulcer incidence. The market will also benefit from growing research and development investments in biological dressings for the treatment of pressure ulcers such as skin substitutes, xenografts, allografts and collagen dressings. Foam dressings with hydrophilic polyurethane foam will grow in demand for the treatment of highly exuding pressure ulcers. With body mass index being predictive of pressure ulcer risk, the growing base of obese population worldwide will support the expansion of addressable market opportunities for pressure ulcer relief products. The lack of reimbursement will additionally drive focus on the prevention of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUS). The United States and Europe represent large markets worldwide supported by widespread incidence and prevalence of decubitus ulcers and chronic wounds among the aging baby boomers and innovation in products and new treatment modalities. Asia-Pacific including China will remain a major market led by improving healthcare infrastructure; establishment of dedicated wound healing centers; focus on providing affordable healthcare services; and development of wound healing programs as part of medical tourism packages.