Comparison of costs and quality of life in ulcerative colitis patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, ileostomy and anti-TNFα therapy

Background and Aims: More data are warranted on the economic impact of different treatment strategies in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We compared the costs and quality of life of UC patients with a pouch reconstruction, an ileostomy or anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) therapy. Methods: UC patients filled out 3-monthly questionnaires for 2 years. Differences in 3-monthly healthcare costs, productivity costs and patient costs were tested using mixed model analysis. Quality of life was assessed employing the) and the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ). Results: Out of 915 UC patients, 81 (9%) had a pouch and 48 (5%) an ileostomy, and 34 (4%) were on anti-TNF alpha therapy. Anti-TNF alpha-treated patients reported high UC related-healthcare costs per 3 months ((sic)5350). Medication use accounted for 92% of healthcare costs. UC-attributable healthcare costs were 3-fold higher in ileostomy patients compared with pouch patients ((sic)1581 versus (sic)407; p < 0.01). Main cost drivers in ileostomy patients were healthcare costs and ileostomy supplies (2 and 23% of healthcare costs, respectively). In pouch patients, the main cost driver was hospitalization, accounting for 50% of healthcare costs. Productivity loss did not differ between pouch and ileostomy patients ((sic)483 versus (sic)377; p < 0.23), but was significantly higher in anti-TNF alpha-treated patients ((sic)1085). No difference was found in IBDQ scores, but pouch patients were found to have higher quality-adjusted life years than ileostomy patients and anti-TNF alpha-treated patients (0.90 [interquartile range 0.78-1.00] versus 0.84 [0.78-1.00] and 0.84 [0.69-1.00], respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients receiving anti-TNF alpha therapy reported the highest healthcare cost, in which medication use was the major cost driver. Ileostomy patients were three times more expensive than pouch patients due to frequent hospitalization and ileostomy supplies.