From 2013 to 2019, the density of Computed Tomography (CT) scanners in U.S. hospitals showed fluctuating trends, with yearly changes ranging from a decrease of 1.6% to an increase of 6.63%. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in a sharp decline of 6.02% in the density, which slightly recovered with a modest increase of 1.24% and 1.85% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. By 2023, the density stood at 27.4 Units Per Million Persons but declined slightly by 0.4% compared to the previous year. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years (2019-2023) was -1.09%, indicating an average annual decrease.

Future trends to watch for include:

Continued slight declines in CT scanner density, with forecasted year-on-year decreases from 2024 to 2028.
An average decline rate (CAGR) of -0.28% over the next five years (2024-2028).
Potential influences of advancing medical imaging technologies and hospital resource management on scanner density trends.