In 2013 each of the major HOT (Home Oxygen Therapy) companies engaging in the home respirator business has attained a steady growth of about 5 to 10% in its sales compared with that in the previous year. The slight growth in the HOT-related business is attributed mainly to the increase in the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) equipment for SAS (Sleep Apnea Syndrome) medical treatments.

The number of HOT patients has been increasing at a pace of 3,000 persons per year for the recent several years. The equipment for HOT includes oxygen concentrators, liquid oxygen suppliers and device-type oxygen cylinders. HOT Patients are using portable oxygen cylinders (gas cylinder and liquid oxygen vessel) for going out. Most patients staying home are users of oxygen concentrators, and it can be said that the said number of 3,000 persons per year corresponds to the increased portion of patients who use oxygen concentrators.

Gas Review, in touch with HOT-related companies and oxygen generator manufacturers including Teijin Pharma, is collecting data as to how many units (to rent for patients to care) are now delivered per year, so that you can see a graph showing transience in the number of patient, the working share of oxygen concentrators and the distribution map of units delivered. The number of patients using oxygen concentrators was estimated to be 159,000 and that of in-home care patients to be 167,000 in 2013. It is said that COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients is a reserve of HOT patients. The patients getting medical treatment amount to about 220,000 (according to MHLW’s Patient Survey) and potential patients are estimated to be 5.3 million.

Most of the COPD patients are said to be HOT patients. Taking into account the COPD reserve people and the aging society, there seemed to be much more increase in the number of HOT patients. With the background of the recent advancement in medicines for respiratory organ, however, the yearly increase of HOT prescribed patients seems to remain at 3,000.