Healthcare Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Market

Market Overview

The global healthcare powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) market revenue was valued at USD 360.22 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 835.31 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.80% over the forecast period (2023–2031). The increasing awareness of power air-purifying respirators' capacity to shield the user from exposure to dangerous pollutants is expected to have a positive effect on their demand in the foreseeable future.

A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is one that purifies air. Air-purifying respirators (APRs) use filters, cartridges, or canisters to remove various air pollutants, including gases, vapors, aerosols (solid particles and droplets), and combinations. Battery-operated blowers in a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) draw air through cartridges and filters. The pharmaceutical, mining, automotive, healthcare, and agricultural industries, among others, use these PAPR properties.

Major components of the PAPR system include headgear, motors/blowers, breathing tubes, filter cartridges, and battery packs. Companies such as Advanced Rubber Products, SIMTEC, and Casco Bay Molding offer rubber-molded products to respiratory equipment manufacturers. Battery sources worn by the user power PAPR motors. They are essential in supplying filtered air to headtops such as hoods, facepieces, and helmets.

Market Dynamics

Global Healthcare Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Market Drivers

Rising Healthcare Expenditure

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), global healthcare expenditure witnessed a 4% growth in high-income and 6% growth in middle and low-income economies in 2018. The rising spending on healthcare in middle and low-income economies can be attributed to the increasing dependence of people on public funding instead of out-of-pocket expenditures. Factors such as the expansion of public healthcare systems, increased economic power, and a growing population are anticipated to increase healthcare spending globally. Moreover, the aging population, rising prevalence of chronic and long-term diseases, increased investments in MedTech and advanced infrastructure, increasing labor costs and staff shortages, and rising demand for broader healthcare services are anticipated to boost healthcare expenditure across the globe.

Furthermore, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as respirators, masks, helmets, hoods, visors, gloves, gowns, lab coats and aprons, coveralls, bouffant caps, and shoe covers has increased as a result of the demand for healthcare services and goods. It is also projected that the world's aging population will increase healthcare spending over the forecast period, increasing demand for necessities like power respirators that purify the air. The adoption of novel practices in the medical and healthcare industries has fueled the development of advanced medical care products such as powered air-purifying respirators, protective clothing, and other devices. Moreover, increasing disposable incomes in developing countries such as India, China, and Mexico are expected to enable their populations to avail advanced healthcare services, which is likely to boost the penetration of technologically- advanced medicalcare products in the healthcare industry.

Similarly, the healthcare industry in major developing economies is expected to grow substantially due to investments in both public and private sectors, a growing population, and a rising geriatric patient population. Due to rising healthcare expenditures and the increased purchasing power of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, they have provided protective equipment such as gloves, respirators, masks, and clothing for their staff and patients. Moreover, rising awareness related to the ability of power air-purifying respirators to protect the wearer from contact with harmful contaminants is anticipated to impact their demand positively over the forecast period.

Rising Awareness Regarding Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIS)

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), also called hospital or nosocomial infections, can occur in patients while receiving treatments for any medical condition in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. These infections can be associated with surgeries and medical devices used during medical or surgical procedures. These infections are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the U.S., significantly increasing healthcare costs yearly. According to the WHO, hundreds of millions of patients are affected by HAIs globally annually, causing mortality and financial losses for the healthcare systems. Moreover, 10 out of 100 hospitalized patients are infected with HAIs in developing and 7 in developed economies. HAIs are significantly higher in middle- and low-income economies due to the lack of appropriate healthcare services.

Additionally, healthcare workers must use gloves and aprons or gowns during patient care to prevent HAIs. Power air-purifying respirators are required in settings with the threat of exposure to secretions, bodily fluids, excretions, and blood splashing into the eyes and faces of healthcare professionals caring for patients. Proper hygiene and adherence to aseptic techniques by healthcare workers are some methods that can help avoid the transmission of disease-causing microbes, thereby preventing these infections. Moreover, the rising focus of healthcare workers on hygiene in healthcare facilities to reduce the number of HAI cases is expected to positively impact the market's growth.

Global Healthcare Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Market Restraint

Lack of Consumer Awareness

Failure to acknowledge clinical urgency, lack of knowledge, and lack of supervision are some of the major challenges faced by the healthcare industry. Healthcare workers are at a greater risk of infection due to continuous contact with patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The risk of infectious disease transmission is aggravated due to poor infection control measures and low compliance with standard precautions issued by health and safety regulatory bodies. Probable reasons for non-adherence to infection control procedures could be extended working hours, insufficient time, lack of training, scarcity of equipment, and low perception of risk.

Major transmission routes include airborne contaminants, droplets, and contact (direct and indirect). The transmission of influenza virus in acute-care facilities due to high exposure rates makes healthcare workers vulnerable to various diseases. This offers ample opportunity for research institutes to evaluate high-risk wards and adherence to safety guidelines accordingly. Major equipment suggested by regulatory bodies to be used in high-risk activities include gloves, N95 respirators, eyewear, coveralls, and PPE. Lack of training and expertise in using PAPRs have remained major factors for the dominance of N95 respirators over PAPRs in hospitals and other healthcare sectors.

Technological advancements and changing consumer preferences have drastically changed manufacturing practices to obtain high-quality finished products. The industry has also witnessed a rise in the demand for engineered and high-performance multi-functionality protective equipment. However, the manufacturing processes are highly cost-intensive and complex for shop floor workers to comprehend. Complex manufacturing procedures and the requirement for a skilled workforce are expected to increase overall costs, thereby restraining market growth.

Global Healthcare Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Market Opportunities

Emergence of Infectious Biological Hazards

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19, is a highly infectious agent that causes fatal respiratory illnesses, which is a serious health concern. Currently, the new delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading rapidly. It also impacts the fully vaccinated population. There is also a rising effort to prevent or reduce transmission to healthcare workers actively confronting the pandemic, as many healthcare workers died while treating COVID-19 patients. Therefore, various government and regulatory authorities worldwide have suggested using PPE properly to avoid spreading the virus. This is expected to drive the demand for PAPR in the healthcare sector.

Similar outbreaks of various infectious viruses have been reported in the past. For instance, the Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first reported in West Africa in 2014. Ebola was reported in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in West Africa. Due to the early occurrence of this biological hazard, medical professionals were unable to treat EVD victims or obtain approved medical evaluations.

Furthermore, the emergence of biological viruses, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Zika, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and the shifting trend toward proactive measures in the pharmaceutical sector are predicted to propel product demand. Moreover, increasing demand for multi-purpose PAPRs, such as respirators with built-in gas detectors, is expected to drive R&D activities regarding efficient and durable PAPRs to prevent the spread of biological hazards. The abovementioned factors are expected to drive the demand for PAPR in the healthcare industry over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

Region-wise, the global healthcare powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) market is segmented into North America, Europe, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.70% during the forecast period. Government spending is anticipated to stimulate regional economic growth, especially in digital and transportation infrastructure. The region spends a considerable amount on healthcare infrastructure. Eurostat stated the average healthcare expenditure across the European Union is around 10% of the GDP. As per the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries & Association, 2018, Europe's R&D expenditure was USD 44.19 billion, around USD 2 billion higher than the previous year. According to Eurostat statistics, as of 2018, over 1% of the population in each of the EU member states—Germany, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, and Luxembourg—was employed as a nurse.

Moreover, Ireland had the highest number of midwives per population, and Belgium had the highest number of midwifery graduates per 100,000 compared to other EU member states in 2018. The rise in demand for PAPR, used in healthcare facilities to protect workers from respiratory illnesses and other infections, is due to the expanding number of qualified nurses, midwives, associate nurses, and other care professionals.

In Asia-Pacific, the healthcare industry is predicted to witness steady growth over the projected period. The number of people choosing home care services is rising; there is an increase in medical tourism, and healthcare infrastructures, including hospitals and clinics, are expanding. Moreover, the growing population and increasing geriatric population are the other factors likely to propel the demand for healthcare services, which is expected to propel the demand for PAPR used in healthcare facilities over the forecast period. Approximately 1.3 billion people in the Asia-Pacific region will be elderly by 2050. In Australia, South Korea, and Japan, about 18.5%, 31.4%, and 17.1% of their respective populations are expected to be elderly by 2028. Moreover, factors such as the rising aging population, driven by rising life expectancy and increasing non-communicable diseases, are anticipated to boost market growth.

Segmental Analysis

The global healthcare powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) market is segmented by product.

Based on product, the global healthcare powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) market is segmented into full masks, half masks, and helmets, hoods, and visors. 

The half-mask segment dominates the global market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 10.31% during the forecast period. Half-mask PAPR has been certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since it has been tested and designed to meet their specifications. Projections suggest that increasing demand in developing economies will propel the respiratory protection market. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has determined that the Assigned Protection Factor (APF) for half-mask Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) is 50. Half-mask PAPR also offers enhanced protection compared to N95 masks, comprising P100 high-efficiency or High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. Moreover, properties such as the lightness and compact structure of half-mask PAPR will likely augment their demand over the forecast period.

The full face mask segment is the second largest. An elastomeric facepiece made from rubber or silicone makes up the full-face mask PAPR. Vapor, gas, particle filters, or a combination of all three are installed on these PAPRs. These respirators offer protection during medium- to light-duty tasks, such as prolonged hand and arm motions or actions akin to brisk walking. These masks are also tight-fitting and require to be tested. The APF for full face mask PAPR by OSHA is 1000.

Respiratory protection equipment portfolio compatibility and flexibility are enhanced by combining helmets, hoods, and visors with other pieces of gear. A breathing tube is installed to these headgears for air source, creating a constant airflow. The APF for Helmet/hood by OSHA is 1000 with the condition that the user must have evidence from the manufacturer for an APF of more than 1000. Otherwise, PAPRs with helmets and hoods are considered loose-fitting facepiece respirators with APF 25. Those with facial scars, missing dentures, or beards can protect their eyes and respiratory systems with helmets, hoods, visors, or loose-fitting facepieces.

Recent Developments

• May 2023- Surgical Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs) released by 3M™ are scientifically designed to make respiratory protection more comfortable. These respirators are NIOSH-approved and FDA-cleared for fluid resistance.
• April 2023- Half Facepiece Reusable Respirators are another respiratory protection option for healthcare workers released by 3M™. Reusable respirators offer a minimum of 95% filtration efficiency when used with replaceable particulate filters. They also have the ability to be disinfected and reused.