Cost Analysis and Cost Determinants in a European Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inception Cohort With 10 Years of Follow-up Evaluation

Abstract

Background & Aims: Economic analysis in chronic diseases is a prerequisite for planning a proper distribution of health care resources. We aimed to determine the cost of inflammatory bowel disease, a lifetime illness with considerable morbidity. Methods: We studied 1321 patients from an inception cohort in 8 European countries and Israel over 10 years. Data on consumption of resources were obtained retrospectively. The cost of health care was calculated from the use of resources and their median prices. Data were analyzed using regression models based on the generalized estimating equations approach. Results: The mean annual total expenditure on health care was 1871€/patient-year for inflammatory bowel disease, 1524€/patient-year for ulcerative colitis, and 2548€/patient-year for Crohn's disease (P