Mobile Health and Devices Poised for Boom

May 22, 2017

Wellesley, Mass., May 22, 2017 – An estimated 7 million patients have already used some form of digital health program and connected devices, a number predicted to reach 50 million by 2020, according to a new BCC Research report. This study explores the expanding world of mobile health (mHealth) care plans, apps and devices in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

Cultural differences, Internet of Things technology and network connectivity are driving the mHealth revolution, along with new patient-centered health policy initiatives. Key findings in Mobile Health (mHealth) Technologies and Global Markets indicate that data security, lack of a consistent regulatory framework and data management are among the industry’s challenges.

Affluent and connected North American consumers are the primary market, generating nearly one-third of global sales, roughly $4.7 billion in 2016. But China is the world’s largest mobile market and may yield new mHealth systems for remote diagnosis and treatment.

Research Highlights

• Europe and North America predict 29% CAGR in mHealth for the five years 2016-2021, and an estimated 27.5% in Asia-Pacific.
• Healthcare spending is outpacing GDP growth and one goal of mHealth is to reduce costs and increase convenience and adherence to care plans.
• Aging populations, access to care and demographics are other factors driving remote solutions and monitors for chronic or “lifestyle” issue including weight, cardiac and diabetes conditions.

"So many factors are supporting the growth in this area – from self-care and activity monitoring – to medical conditions, historical data and portability. However, these devices rely on manufacturer ecosystems, wireless networks and even health policy matters like epidemic outbreaks or health trends," says Kevin Fitzgerald, BCC Research editorial director.

Mobile Networks Finding New Uses

In 2015 alone, more than half a billion mobile devices joined an existing ecosystem of nearly 8 billion mobile network items. Researchers have tracked a 4,000-fold increase in mobile data traffic in the past 10 years. And the advance from 3G to 4G/LTE and next-generation 5G will only extend use of smart phones, video by daily consumers and connected devices, from fitness bands to heart monitors and glucose meters, Fitzgerald notes.

Editors and reporters who wish to speak with the analyst should contact Steven Cumming at steven.cumming@bccresearch.com.

Mobile Health (mHealth) Technologies and Global Markets( HLC162B )
Publish Date: May 2017    

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