Oxygen Conservation Devices Market Overcomes Pandemic Strom as Increasing Covid-19 Cases Highlights Importance of Medical Oxygen Conservation
An oxygen conservation device (OCD) is used to control the flow of oxygen from the oxygen source to the patient. The device releases oxygen only when the patient inhales. This in turn increases the amount of time a patient can use the oxygen supply. There are two types of oxygen conserving devices: the fixed-pulse type and the demand-pulse units. These devices help providers by reducing the frequency of refills, cylinders, and deliveries. They monitor the patient’s breathing patterns and adjust the oxygen dose depending on the patient’s needs.
Oxygen conservation devices offers various advantages. They are compact and lightweight and are ideal for home use. Some OCDs are battery operated. A single set of batteries can offer power for up to one year. These devices are extremely efficient and have the ability to automatically modify oxygen output.
Emergence of Covid-19 has led to significant growth in the oxygen conservation devices market. Globally, as of 4:53pm CET, 18 March 2021, there have been 120,915,219 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2,674,078 deaths, as reported to the World Health Organization. Such scenario has created a desperate lack of medical oxygen for Covid-19 patients, which boosts demand for OCD.
Oxygen conservation devices also find application in the treatment and management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In Latin America, the oxygen conservation devices market is driven by high cases of COPD. According to the study ‘Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Latin America’, published in January 2019 in the journal Annals of Global Health, the prevalence of COPD in Latin American cities ranged between 6.2 and 19.6% in individuals aged 40 years and above.
Oxygen conservation devices are used in emergency surgeries where constant supply of oxygen is required. Admissions for emergency surgery increased between 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 by 2.9% in public hospitals and by 5.1% in private hospitals in Australia, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Hospitals at a glance 2017–18 report updated in August 2019. Thus, Australia may witness significant growth in oxygen conservation devices market.
According to The Global Asthma Report 2018, the prevalence of asthma symptoms was 23% and the prevalence of a medical diagnosis of asthma 12% in Brazil. Thus, Latin America is also expected to witness significant growth in the oxygen conservation devices market.
