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

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 Cabue (n) over tilde nes ( 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 is an element of 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 is an element of 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 (is an element of 2783) during the B-IFX period as opposed to IFX itself (is an element of 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.