Resource use in patients with Crohn’s disease treated with infliximab

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 2007-11, Vol.26 (10), p.1313-1323
• Main Authors: SARO, C., DE LA COBA, C., CASADO, M. Á., MORALES, J. M., OTERO, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal - economics; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Crohn Disease - drug therapy; Crohn Disease - economics; Digestive system; Drug Costs; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Health Resources - statistics & numerical data; Health Services Research - methods; Hospitalization - economics; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infliximab; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Retrospective Studies; Spain; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03507.x

Summary Aim  To estimate the impact of infliximab (IFX) on hospital resources for patients with Crohn’s disease. Methods  Resource use data for at least 1 year before (B‐IFX) and after (A‐IFX) infliximab administration were retrospectively collected for all patients treated with IFX at the Hospital Cabueñes (Spain). Direct costs calculated were: hospital‐stays, surgeries, out‐patient visits, diagnostic and laboratory tests, pharmacological treatments, and day‐care hospitalization for IFX administration. Results  Patients (n = 34; mean age at treatment: 43.6 years) with 9.8 and 4.3 years (B‐IFX and A‐IFX, respectively) had their costs estimated. Partial or complete response was achieved in 82% of patients. Total annual B‐IFX costs per patient were €4464, of which 62.4% was for hospitalization, 3.1% for surgery, 8.7% for consultation visits, 16.2% for diagnostic and laboratory tests, and 9.6% for other treatments. Total annual A‐IFX costs per patient were €10 594; of which 6.4% was for hospitalization, 0.8% for surgery, 4.2% for consultation visits, 7.6% for diagnostic and laboratory tests, 5.5% for other treatments, and 75.5% for IFX and its administration. The primary cost item was hospitalization (€2783) during the B‐IFX period as opposed to IFX itself (€7996) during the subsequent A‐IFX period. Conclusions  In routine practice, IFX appears to be an effective treatment by reducing hospital‐stays, but increases overall budgetary cost for patients with Crohn’s disease.