PGI1: EFFECTS ON HEALTH CARE CONTACTS AND DAYS ABSENT FROM WORK WITH BUDESONIDE CIR CAPSULES IN THE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT OF CROHN'S DISEASE IN A US SETTING

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Crohn's disease (CD) is a debilitating chronic disease. It also has economic implications (both for patient and society). Reduced work (or school) attendance and continuous need for health care contacts are two important aspects. Data comparing the impact of different treatment approaches are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To assess health care utilisation and absence for work (or school) in a US setting of patients treated with budesonide CIR maintenance therapy compared to patients with no maintenance treatment (placebo). A societal perspective was adopted. METHODS: Data was collected in a double-blind randomised clinical trial comparing budesonide CIR 6 mg daily with placebo for a one year period. Patients, 55 in each group, had CD localised to the distal ileum and/or the ascending colon and were between the ages of 18 and 73 (mean 40.3 and 40.5 years). The collected data included physician visits, different minor procedures (e.g., radiographic, endoscopic), medications, hospitalisations and surgical procedures. Number of days of absence due to symptoms or treatment of the disease was also collected. All resource utilisation related to the design of the clinical trial was excluded in order not to overestimate real health care use and productivity losses. RESULTS: The budesonide CIR treatment group had 26.3% fewer physician visits (87.14 vs. 118.27 ns) and 27% fewer days absent from work or school (311.73 vs. 427.23 days ns). Numerical differences in other variables were smaller but in favour of budesonide CIR. CONCLUSION: Treatment with budesonide CIR capsules suggests benefits in terms of reduced health care resource utilisation and absence from work (school), that also could represent favourable cost implications in the delivery of health care.