Sacral Nerve Stimulation Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The sacral nerve stimulation market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period.

The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the sacral nerve stimulation market is expected to be significant, as most non-COVID treatment services were disrupted to reserve the healthcare infrastructure for COVID-19-infected patients and minimize the risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to a study published in the British Journal of Surgery in May 2020, due to a 12-week period of peak disruption in hospital services due to COVID-19 in 2020, around 28.4 million elective surgeries worldwide were canceled or postponed. Additionally, according to a research study by Jeremy Yuen-Chun Teoh et al., titled " A Global Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Urological Services" (2020), globally, the outpatient clinics for female urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, infertility, and sexual medicine, benign scrotal conditions, renal stone, and bladder stone were the most affected by the pandemic. Also, a delay of more than eight weeks for urological services was reported for 28% of all outpatient clinics, 30% of all outpatient investigations and procedures, and 31% of all urological surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, given the aforementioned facts, the studied market is predicted to be negatively impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rising prevalence of overactive bladder conditions and the increasing incidence of urge incontinence, such as urinary tract infection (UTI), are the major drivers for the growth of the market studied. Also, the growing incidence of fecal incontinence and the availability of medical reimbursements are some other factors fueling the market growth. As per an article published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine in 2019, the prevalence of urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women aged 45-90 years was around 26.47%. Also, urinary incontinence has a significant impact on social and mental health. Sacral nerve stimulation helps in enhancing the quality of life of the affected population.

Furthermore, the prevalence of urinary incontinence is more in women than in men. For instance, according to a research study by Sedighe Batmani et al., published in the BMC Geriatrics Journal in March 2021, the highest prevalence of urinary incontinence was reported to be in older adult women in Asia (45.1%). Some factors influencing the incidence of urinary incontinence in older women are age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Thus, the growing target patient pool may drive the demand for treatment and promote the sacral nerve stimulation market in the coming years. Furthermore, the rising geriatric population globally, growing research investments, and technological advancements associated with the development of novel medical devices are expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

Key Market Trends

Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Urinary and Fecal Incontinence Estimated to Witness Growth

The urinary and fecal incontinence segment is estimated to register significant growth in the future, due to the growing prevalence of patients having urinary tract infection (UTI), anal sphincter injuries, and overactive bladders. According to a research article published in Therapeutic Advances in Urology (2019), urinary tract infections (UTIs) were the most common outpatient infections. The prevalence of UTI was significant among the elderly, and the incidence of UTIs in women aged 65 years and above was estimated to be 205, i.e., 11% of the total population studied. These populations are expected to create a demand for treatment and thus drive the segment’s growth. Moreover, the rising number of people having constipation and pelvic pain is anticipated to boost the segment.

Also, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), in an article titled “Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women” (2019), stated that there was a rise in the incidence of various diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, worldwide, which may lead to an increased prevalence of urinary incontinence. This, in turn, is expected to increase the demand for urinary incontinence treatment devices over the forecast period. Furthermore, the growing trend of research and development activities by the key players and the increasing number of product approvals are anticipated to aid in the growth of the segment. For instance, in August 2020, Medtronic’s InterStim Micro neurostimulator and InterStim SureScan MRI leads were approved by the US FDA for the treatment of patients with bladder and bowel control conditions. The InterStim Micro neurostimulator is indicated for the treatment of patients with overactive bladders, fecal incontinence, and non-obstructive urinary retention, through sacral neuromodulation therapy. Thus, owing to the aforementioned factors, the studied segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

North America Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market

North America is expected to hold a significant share of the sacral nerve stimulation market due to the rising prevalence of overactive bladder conditions (OAB) and urge incontinence, the growing awareness of the availability of treatment, and the increasing adoption of technologically advanced medical devices, such as implantable SNS devices. Furthermore, the well-established infrastructure, growing healthcare expenditure, and favorable reimbursement policies for these devices and treatment procedures are expected to fuel the market studied in this region.

The increasing geriatric population and the growing demand for minimally-invasive surgeries also aid in the growth of the studied market in North America. As per the Population Reference Bureau’s Population Bulletin, “Aging in United States,” the American population aged 65 and older is predicted to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. The prevalence of urinary incontinence is generally found to increase with aging. Thus, the growing geriatric population is expected to drive the growth of the studied market in the coming years in North America. Additionally, as per the article published in February 2021, titled “Cross-sectional Study of Prevalence and Correlates of Urinary Incontinence (UI) in Older Home-care Clients With Type 2 Diabetes in Ontario, Canada,” among 118,519 older adults with diabetes, 39,945 (33.7%) of them had daily or multiple daily episodes of UI. Also, as per an article published in Medscape in June 2021, urinary incontinence was estimated to affect 10-13 million people in the United States. Thus, the growing burden of urinary incontinence in the region is likely to be one of the major drivers for the studied market over the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The sacral nerve stimulation market is moderately competitive and consists of several major players. Some of the companies currently dominating the market are Nuvectra Corporation, Medtronic PLC, NeuroPace Inc., Laborie Inc., Axonics Modulation Technologies Inc., Nevro Corp., Boston Scientific Corporation, Synapse Biomedical Inc., and St. Jude Medical Inc. (Abbott Laboratories). The key players are carrying out various strategies, such as acquisitions, partnerships, and heavy investments in research and development activities and new product launches. For instance, in September 2019, Axonics Modulation Technologies Inc. received approval from the US FDA for its Axonics Sacral Neuromodulation System, whcih is used for the treatment of chronic fecal incontinence.

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