In an era of restricted European healthcare investment, the cardiology picture archiving and communications system (PACS) market is expected to show significant growth potential, driven by end-user willingness to locate funds to purchase this equipment. This willingness will be built upon the need for digital management of an increasingly overwhelming amount of cardiology information - a need that is being ever more adequately addressed by the inclusion of improved cardiology-specific tools in vendor cardiology PACS/cardiology information systems (CIS) offerings.

Frost & Sullivan (http://www.medicalimaging.frost.com) finds that the European Cardiology PACS Market earned revenues of US$73.6 million in 2005 and estimates this to reach US$200.5 million in 2012.

"An aging population, rising levels of obesity, and a high incidence of heart and circulatory disease are increasing the amount of cardiology studies by 20 per cent a year" notes Frost & Sullivan Medical Imaging Team Leader, Martin Bryant. "This overriding demographic factor will drive growth in the cardiology PACS market."

The mounting incidence of heart disease has been paralleled by the retirement of the affluent baby boomer population, a group that is increasingly willing to pay for services not provided by public health authorities. This has resulted in an urgent need for some form of image and data management in the realm of cardiology in order to effectively cope with the huge volumes of information generated by these new studies. Accordingly, healthcare providers are boosting investments in cardiology PACS systems.

Despite the acceptance shown towards these systems, however, the financial pressures felt by end users is likely to reduce the investments in the infrastructure needed to house a cardiology PACS. Cardiologists sometimes find it harder to make a case for the necessary investment this entails, as, unlike the radiology department, cardiology does not serve the rest of the hospital, and other departments do not use cardiology PACS as extensively as they do radiology PACS.

"In Europe, the distinct lack of healthcare investments will be felt most acutely in the cardiology PACS market, purchase of which signifies incurring substantial upfront costs," explains Mr. Bryant. "This problem is exacerbated by the predominance of the capital investment model in Europe, with many providers reluctant to take out leasing options."

Designing a cardiology PACS system based on an open architecture, with sufficient flexibility will be the key to overcoming this restraint. End users with existing radiology PACS infrastructure will be able to opt for cardiology PACS and CIS modules that suit their needs, and fit onto existing radiology networks and archiving.

European Cardiology PACS Market is part of the Medical Imaging Subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: European PACS and PACS Professional and Technical Services, European Cardiac Catheterization, and 3D and 4D Imaging in Europe. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews are available to the press.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the European Cardiology PACS Market (B930 - 50) then send an e-mail to Radhika Menon Theodore - Corporate Communications at rmtheodore@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information via email upon receipt of the above information.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com.

European Cardiology PACS Market

B930 - 50

Contact:

Melina Trevino

Corporate Communications - Americas

P: +1-210-247-2440

F: +1-210-348-1003

E: melina.trevino@frost.com

http://www.frost.com

Keywords in this release: European healthcare market, Europe, healthcare investments, cardiology, cardiology PACS, PACS, picture archiving and communication systems, CIS, cardiology information systems, digital management, cardiology information, cardiology-specific tools, heart disease, circulatory disease, cardiology information, image management, data management, cardiologists, radiology, radiologists, radiology PACS, radiology networks, radiology PACS infrastructure

Contact: Melina Trevino, Corporate Communications, Americas, P: +1-210-247-2440, F: +1-210-348-1003, E: melina.trevino@frost.com, http://www.frost.com

Source: prnewswire