Nov 18 (Reuters) - Healthpeak Properties ( DOC ), a U.S.

healthcare-centric real estate investment trust, raised its

annual forecast for funds from operations on Monday, betting on

strong demand for its medical office properties.

Demand for outpatient sites owned by the company has

benefited from a rise in patient visits, creating a favorable

leasing environment.

The REIT now expects its 2024 adjusted FFO - a key

performance measure - to be between $1.80 and $1.82 per share,

compared with its previous range of $1.79 to $1.81 per share.

Last month, Healthpeak reported a better-than-estimated

total revenue of $700.40 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30,

and had raised the lower end of its annual FFO forecast to $1.79

per share.