Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Shifting to Anti-TNF Agents

The use of antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents has been shown to reduce health care costs associated with hospitalization and surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (Gastroenterology 2008; 135:1493 and Gut 2011; 60:930). A new study from the Netherlands assesses the current cost drivers for inflammatory bowel disease in the anti-TNF era.

Investigators surveyed 1315 patients with Crohn disease (CD) and 937 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) about their health care utilization and other costs (including loss of productivity) during a 3-month period. Information from a baseline survey indicated no differences in demographics or disease attributes between respondents and nonrespondents.

Medications constituted 71% of all costs associat…