Temporal trends in healthcare resource use and associated costs of patients with cystic fibrosis

Background: Better insights into the natural course of cystic fibrosis (CF) have led to treatment approaches that have improved pulmonary health and increased the life expectancy of affected individuals. This study evaluated how the combination of modified demographics and changes in CF management impacted resource consumption and the cost of care. Methods: Medical records of CF patients from 2006 to 2016 in the French CF Registry were linked to their corresponding claims data (SNDS). Medications, medical visits, procedures, hospitalisations, and indirect costs were annualized by calendar year from 2006 to 2017. Results: Of the 7,671 patients included in the French CF Registry, 6,187 patients (80.7%) were linked to the SNDS (51.9% male, mean age = 24.7 years). The average cost per patient was euro14,174 in 2006, euro21,920 in 2011 and euro44,585 in 2017. Costs associated with hospital stays increased from euro3,843 per patient in 2006 to euro6,741 in 2017. In 2017, the mean cost per CF patient was allocated as follows: 72% for medications (of which 51% for modulator therapies), 15% for hospital stays, 7% for medical visits, 3% for indirect costs, 2% for medical devices, 1% for outpatient medical procedures. Conclusion: There was a strong increase in the mean annual cost per CF patient between 2006 and 2017, mostly due to the cost of therapy after the introduction of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators. The combination of an increase in the number of CF patients - particularly adult patients - and an increase in the annual cost per patient led to a substantial increase in the total cost of CF disease care for the health systems. (c) 2021 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the impact of modified demographics and changes in cystic fibrosis (CF) management on resource consumption and the cost of care for CF patients. The study found a significant increase in the annual cost per CF patient between 2006 and 2017, mostly due to the introduction of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies.