The market for mobile medical applications generated 2015 revenues of $489 million U.S. (434.5 million euros), of which nearly 40% came from apps for monitoring conditions for physicians or for patients themselves, according to a new report from market research firm Kalorama Information.
Interest in telemedicine and telehealth has exploded over the last decade; nearly 500 clinical trials have been completed, are currently underway, or are beginning recruitment, and many of these are utilizing mobile applications as one component of the system or can easily support a mobile system, according to Kalorama.
Both research and application of telemedicine and telehealth have been useful in several areas of disease monitoring, Kalorama said. Monitoring apps can either put patients in touch with a physician member of a network or connect a patient to their existing physician, according to the firm.
Diabetes and heart conditions are the most common areas for medical apps, Kalorama said. However, telemonitoring in behavioral and mental health areas, cancer, respiratory disorders, pain, and obesity continues to show widespread adoption and success, the company added.
