Out-of-pocket expenses of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a comparison of patient-reported outcomes across 12 European countries

Eur J Health Econ. 2023 Sep;24(7):1073-1083. doi: 10.1007/s10198-022-01536-9. Epub 2022 Oct 19.

Abstract

Background: There is a high variability of out-of-packet patient costs of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), but the issue is not widely recognised. Therefore, we compared patient costs of IBDs between 12 European countries.

Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among adult patients with IBD. Data on patient characteristics and out-of-pocket expenses were anonymously collected. Ordered logit regression models were used to analyse the responses provided by patients. The results were adjusted for confounders and multiplicity.

Results: The questionnaires obtained from 3687 patients were analysed. Patients with comorbidities and active disease indicated higher out-of-pocket expenses than those without comorbidities and with disease in remission, respectively. Compared with other IBD, patients with ulcerative colitis indicated higher expenses on medications prescribed or recommended by physicians [odds ratio (OR) 1.99, 95% CI 1.48-2.67]. Expenses on dietary supplements, special diet or equipment, ostomy pouches, and transportation to a medical facility differed slightly between patients at different ages and were lower among men than among women (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.93). The expenses differed significantly between countries. An adjusted mean patient cost per month varied from €77 (patient with Crohn disease in remission from Denmark) to €376 (patient with active ulcerative colitis from Romania). Compared with active disease, patients with IBD in remission had a lower out-of-pocket cost by 29-62% (€10-€22 monthly; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The study revealed a high relevance of the out-of-pocket cost of IBD in the context of economic evaluation and a high variability of the cost between countries.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Out-of-pocket costs; Patient-reported outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Crohn Disease*
  • Female
  • Health Expenditures
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures