The Challenges of Estimating IBD Care Cost

Rates of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are rising globally, but the range of costs associated with it are poorly understood, according to a research paper entitled The Cost of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care: How to Make it Sustainable published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology last month by lead author Johan Burisch, M.D., Ph.D., a gastroenterologist at Hvidovre Hospital in Denmark.

In high-income countries, care estimates range anywhere from $9,000 to $12,000 per person annually, according to the research data in the paper.

Johan Burisch, M.D., Ph.D.

In an interview with Managed Healthcare Executive, Burisch explained that IBD care cost depends largely on where the patient lives and their disease severity.

“For example, the United States has very, very high costs compared to European countries, because the healthcare system is different,” Burisch said.

He also explained that advancements in care have contributed to costs over time.

“If we go back to a couple of decades before we had expensive biological treatments, costs were mainly caused by inpatient care, surgeries and hospitalizations, and this has, over the years, changed,” Burisch said. “Now, it's primarily outpatient care and the medications that are causing the high costs.”