Costs of care for Crohn's disease following the introduction of infliximab: a single-centre UK experience.
BACKGROUND
Infliximab is effective for induction and maintenance of remission in patients with Crohn's disease. There are few data, however, examining effect of infliximab therapy on management costs of Crohn's disease.


OBJECTIVE
To assess Crohn's disease-related costs of care and resource use in a single-centre cohort of patients with Crohn's disease 12 months pre- and post-infliximab therapy.


METHODS
Data on 100 consecutive patients receiving infliximab were collected. Crohn's disease-related resource use was collected 12 months pre- and post-infliximab. National Health Service reference costs were applied to these data and the total Crohn's disease-related health service costs per patient were calculated (£UK). The cost of infliximab therapy was not included in our analysis.


RESULTS
Cost savings were demonstrated in all areas of Crohn's disease-related resource use following infliximab therapy. Mean total Crohn's disease-related cost reduction, 12 months following commencement of infliximab therapy, was £2750 per patient. Mean costs at 12 months post-infliximab in responders were lower than in nonresponders (£1656 vs. £3608, P = 0.02). The number of hospitalizations was reduced. Requirements for examination under anaesthesia were also significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab use resulted in Crohn's disease-related cost savings and hospital resource use, although this was not sufficient to cover the cost of therapy.
Leeds Gastroenterology Institute, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. michael.sprakes@leedsth.nhs.uk
M B
MB
Sprakes
A C
AC
Ford
N C
NC
Suares
L
L
Warren
D
D
Greer
C F
CF
Donnellan
J S R
JS
Jennings
S M
SM
Everett
P J
PJ
Hamlin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab