Portable and Wearable Dialysis Devices Market Size, Trends and Growth Analysis by 2027

The global market for portable and wearable dialysis devices is projected to grow significantly, reaching approximately US$ 4,393.8 million by 2027, up from US$ 3,023.1 million in 2019. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0% from 2020 to 2027.

Several factors are contributing to the expansion of the portable and wearable dialysis devices market, primarily the rising incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the scarcity of available organ donors. However, challenges such as reimbursement issues in developing markets and technical hurdles related to the development of wearable artificial kidneys (WAK) and wearable dialysis devices (WDD) are significant barriers to market growth.

According to the National Kidney Foundation Inc., there are currently 100,000 individuals in the United States awaiting kidney transplants. Alarmingly, a new person is added to this national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, with 82% of these patients requiring a kidney. Tragically, 13 individuals die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. In 2014 alone, 4,761 patients lost their lives while on the waiting list, and 3,668 people became too ill to qualify for a transplant. Many patients awaiting a kidney transplant rely on frequent and cumbersome dialysis treatments to remove toxins from their blood. However, dialysis does not replicate all the critical functions of healthy kidneys, and on average, only 35% of dialysis patients survive beyond five years.

The financial burden of dialysis and other ESRD treatments is substantial, with costs amounting to US$ 35 billion in 2016, which accounted for 7% of Medicare's annual budget. The limited number of available donors, which restricts the number of transplants, further drives the demand for portable and wearable devices designed to manage renal diseases. For example, The Kidney Project, spearheaded by Roy and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been dedicated to developing an implantable bio-artificial kidney for over a decade, aiming to eliminate the need for dialysis and address the donor kidney shortage.

The global market for portable and wearable dialysis devices can be categorized based on product type and end user. In terms of product type, the market is divided into hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The hemodialysis segment dominated the market in 2019 and is expected to exhibit a higher CAGR during the forecast period. Regarding end users, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, and homes. The hospital segment accounted for the largest market share in 2019, while the home segment is projected to experience the highest CAGR in the coming years.

To compile this report, various reputable secondary sources were consulted, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Cancer Society, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the Dubai Health Authority.