Gastritis is the inflammation or irritation of the lining of the stomach. It may cause burning sensation in the stomach, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. Gastritis can be caused due to infection with h. pylori bacteria, long term usage of pain killers or excessive alcohol consumption.

Market Dynamics:

The global gastritis treatment market is estimated to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to rising prevalence of stress and changing lifestyle. According to a study published in National Library of Medicine, stress is one of the major cause of gastritis symptoms and has been linked with exacerbation of gastritis and gastric ulcers. Rising stress levels due to busy work schedules and hectic lifestyles have significantly contributed to the growing gastritis patient pool globally. Additionally, growing consumption of alcohol and pain killers for prolonged period also increases the risk of developing gastritis, thereby supporting market growth during the forecast period.

Growing awareness about gastritis symptoms and its treatment:

With growing awareness about gastritis, its symptoms and available treatment options, the gastritis treatment market is expected to witness significant growth. Gastritis symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, belching and heartburn are commonly experienced by many people. However, many people ignore these symptoms or do not realize that they could be due to gastritis. Increasing knowledge about gastritis as a disease condition and importance of timely medical treatment is encouraging more people to seek medical advice for persistent gastritis symptoms. Various awareness programs by healthcare organizations and availability of health related information on internet have majorly contributed to rising awareness. This growing awareness is anticipated to drive greater demand for various gastritis treatment medications such as proton pump inhibitors, antacids and H2 blockers in the coming years.

Increased prevalence of risk factors associated with gastritis:

Growing prevalence of various risk factors associated with development of gastritis including H. pylori infection, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and use of NSAIDs is a key driver for the gastritis treatment market. H. pylori bacteria infection is one of the major causes of gastritis worldwide. As per some estimates, over 4 billion people across the globe suffer from H. pylori infection. Obesity has significantly risen in both developed and developing countries owing to sedentary lifestyles and consumption of junk food. It is considered as one of the leading risk factors for gastritis. Rising tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol use especially in young population has augmented the gastritis disease burden. Greater uptake of NSAIDs especially for arthritis, joint pain and headache relief has also increased the risk of gastritis. Increase in at-risk population base is expected to propel the demand for effective gastritis treatment drugs.

Costly diagnosis and treatment hindering market growth:

High costs associated with endoscopy procedures for gastritis diagnosis and prescription drugs for its treatment are a major market restraint. Though endoscopy has established itself as gold standard for gastritis diagnosis, the procedure involving use of specialized endoscopy equipment and skilled personnel makes it a costly diagnostic test especially in low and middle-income countries. It may range from $1000 to $2500 depending on the healthcare setting. Further, medications for gastritis treatment such as PPIs, H2 blockers and antibiotics also have higher costs when used for prolonged period for severe cases. This high cost of diagnosis and treatment results in under-diagnosis of gastritis cases especially in developing and underdeveloped regions. It also limits regular intake of prescribed medicines for many patients thereby affecting treatment outcomes. The financial burden of gastritis management negatively impacts the market growth.

Market opportunity in developing countries:

With rising gastric disease burden in developing world, the gastritis treatment market shows lucrative opportunities in these regions. As per WHO, over 45% of global gastric disease cases occur in Indian subcontinent and nations in Asia Pacific and Africa. However, diagnosis and treatment rates for gastritis especially in rural areas remain dismally low due to lack of resources and awareness. This presents a large untapped market potential. Efforts must be taken to improve affordable diagnostic facilities and availability of generic medication in these areas. Also offering subsidized gastritis treatment through public healthcare programs can help greater number of patients to receive optimal care. Rising health awareness and healthcare expenditures in developing countries are likely to boost the gastritis treatment market growth in future.

Favorable reimbursement policies and increase in R&D:

Favorable regulations supporting insurance coverage and reimbursement for gastritis treatment present a key market trend. For instance, in US the Affordable Care Act aims to expand health insurance coverage to low income groups through subsidized plans. This makes prescription drugs more affordable. Similarly, national health insurance programs in several European countries provide partial or full reimbursement for gastritis diagnosis and medication. Increase in pharmaceutical R&D activities and clinical trials to develop novel drug formulations, new drug delivery systems and repurpose existing drugs for improved gastritis management is another emerging market trend. Several pharmaceutical companies are also engaged in R&D programs related to Helicobacter pylori vaccines which can reduce the risk of recurrent infections and prevent development of gastritis. All such trends are likely to support the