Appendicitis Treatment Market Size, Share, and Analysis, By Type (Acute and Chronic), By Treatment (Antibiotics {Penicillins, Cephalosporins, and Others}, and Analgesics {Opioids and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)}), By Route of Administration (Oral and Parenteral), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Drug Stores & Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies), and Regional Forecast 2025-2032

Appendicitis is a medical condition characterized by the inflammation of the appendix. Depending on type, this condition can be treated with medications or surgery. Appendicitis treatment often involves surgical procedures. However, several healthcare providers are focusing toward treatment through medications. Various studies have stated that antibiotic treatment is also an effective treatment option for appendicitis.

• As per a study published by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in October 2020, antibiotics are a good choice of treatment for appendicitis over surgery for some of the patients.

Along with antibiotics, analgesic drugs are also administered to relieve the symptoms of pain associated with the disease. In recent years, there has been a standard practice to immediately administer pain medications such as opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) upon admission to an emergency room.

• As per data published by Verywell Health in February 2023, the symptoms of appendicitis last until it is treated or surgically removed. Analgesic medications may help with pain if patients are taking antibiotics medications instead of undergoing surgery.

The increasing preference toward medications by healthcare providers is due to its comparatively lower cost and higher patient compliance, which are some of the factors responsible for the market growth. The rising incidence of appendicitis, increasing awareness regarding the disease, and the availability of a wide range of antibiotics are some of the major factors driving the growth of the appendicitis treatment market.

• According to data published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in February 2023, the incidence of appendicitis is approximately 233 per 100,000 populations per year in the U.S. The lifetime incidence risk associated with the disease ranges from 6.7 to 8.6%.
• As per data published by Cureus, Journal of Medical Science, in October 2023, a cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in Saudi Arabia to determine the awareness of appendicitis and its complications. The study result indicated that the awareness level of acute appendicitis was 72.2% among the general population.

The industry expansion is further favored by the growing healthcare expenditure and the rising prevalence of appendicitis. The increasing incidence of pediatric appendicitis and shifting focus toward timely diagnosis are some of the additional factors responsible for market growth during the forecast period.

• As per the data published by Oxford University Press in August 2019, a cohort study was conducted in Sweden to determine the incidence of pediatric appendicitis. During the study, around 38,939 children were identified with appendicitis. Every sixth child diagnosed with appendicitis in Sweden has a more complicated course of disease.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Appendicitis Treatment Market

The appendicitis treatment market witnessed a slightly negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was due to a decrease in the disease diagnosis rate and hospital admissions for appendicitis surgeries.

• As per data published by Annals of Surgery Open in March 2021, the number of hospital admissions for appendicitis decreased in March 2020. In April 2020, the hospitals experienced the fewest admissions for appendicitis. Before COVID-19, the number of hospital admissions for the condition in 2016–2019 stood at an average of 2,030 patients and decreased to an average of 1,516 patients in 2020. During the pandemic, hospital admissions and the diagnosis rate of acute appendicitis dropped by 25.4%.

The pandemic did not record an increase in cases of complicated appendicitis. However, there was a significant reduction in negative appendectomies.

• As per an article published by the Emergency Medicine International Journal in November 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant effect on complicated appendicitis but significantly delayed the time to surgery.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Incidence of Appendicitis - By Key Countries/Regions, 2023
• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, Partnerships, and Others)
• Number of Appendicitis Surgeries, By Key Countries/Regions, 2023
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Appendicitis Treatment Market

Analysis By Treatment

Based on treatment, the antibiotics segment accounted for a significant proportion of the appendicitis treatment market in 2023. The growth is mainly due to the growing focus of healthcare institutions and industry players toward the development and launch of antibiotics for the treatment of several types of appendicitis. The availability of new efficient antibiotics and the adoption of conservative therapies, including antibiotics and lifestyle adjustment, are some of the factors responsible for the segmental growth.

• As per data published by the American College of Surgeons in October 2021, the largest randomized clinical trial was conducted at 25 U.S. medical centers in 1,552 adults with appendicitis. Adults were randomly assigned to receive either antibiotics or appendectomy. As per the study results, the medical center announced that an antibiotic could be used as first-line treatment for most patients with appendicitis.

Furthermore, patients are shifting their preference toward receiving medication-based treatment over surgeries due to the pain associated with surgical procedures. The majority of patients are choosing non-operative management for appendicitis treatment. These are some of the additional factors driving the segmental growth.

• For instance, in October 2020, as per the data published by the University of Mississippi, antibiotics may be a better treatment option for patients with appendicitis than surgery.

Regional Analysis

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North America is anticipated to gain a significant market share in the appendicitis treatment market during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the rising awareness regarding appendicitis and the wide adoption of antibiotics for the treatment of the condition. Furthermore, this region has a well-established healthcare infrastructure that provides easy access to advanced diagnostic procedures, and the presence of a large number of well-established and emerging players in the region further supports the regional market growth.

• According to data published by the Cleveland Clinic in October 2021, the most common surgical procedure performed in the U.S. is appendectomies. Around 300,000 appendectomies are performed each year in the U.S.

Moreover, the increasing incidence of appendicitis in this region ultimately increases the demand for antibiotics and other pain-relieving medicines, boosting the market growth.

• As per data published by the American Medical Association in December 2021, acute appendicitis is the most common medical condition among individuals in the age group of 20 to 30. Nearly 6.7% of women and 8.6% of men in the U.S. are diagnosed with appendicitis over their lifetimes.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of key players such as Teligent, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi, GSK plc., Cipla Inc., and Novartis AG. 

Key Industry Developments

• In June 2023, Pfizer Inc. announced positive results from the Phase 3 clinical trials of Pfizer’s novel antibiotic combination, aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI). This antibiotic combination is used in treating serious bacterial infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.
• In November 2022, Sandoz, a Novartis division, announced an additional investment in the key production facility in Austria to support manufacturing capacity for penicillin. This investment would support the increased global demand for essential antibiotics. 
• In May 2021, Sandoz, a Novartis division, announced plans to strengthen its European antibiotics manufacturing network further by expanding production capabilities in Palafolls, Spain, and Kundl, Austria.
• In February 2021, Novartis AG signed an agreement with certain subsidiaries of GlaxoSmithKline plc to acquire the GSK’s cephalosporin antibiotics business. Through this acquisition, the company gained rights to established brands (Zinacef, Zinnat, and Fortum) in more than 100 markets across the world. This acquisition reinforced Novartis’ global position in the antibiotics market.