Costs of electronic health vs. standard care management of inflammatory bowel disease across three years of follow-up–a Danish register-based study. (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ankersen, Dorit Vedel; Weimers, Petra; Marker, Dorte; Teglgaard Peters-Lehm, Charlotte; Bennedsen, Mette; Rosager Hansen, Malte; Olsen, Jens; Elmegaard Madsen, Maria; Burisch, Johan; Munkholm, Pia
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. Volume 56:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 520
• Page End: 529
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: Inflammatory bowel disease -- costs -- eHealth -- faecal calprotectin; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2021.1892176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-5521

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Costs of using eHealth in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management has only been assessed for short follow-up periods. The primary aim was to compare the direct costs of eHealth (cases) relative to standard care (matched controls) for IBD during three years of follow-up. Methods: The study design was a retrospective, registry-based follow-up study of patients diagnosed with IBD two years prior, and three years subsequent, to their enrolment in eHealth. Cases were matched 1:4 with controls receiving standard care based on diagnosis, gender, biologics (yes/no) and age (+/− 5 years). Results: We identified 116 cases (76 (66%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 40 (34%) with Crohn's disease (CD)) and matched them with 433 controls. IBD-related outpatient costs were only significantly higher for cases in the year of their inclusion in eHealth (€2, 949 vs. €1, 621 per patient, p =.01). Mean IBD-related admission costs tended to fall after enrolment in eHealth, with mean admission costs per patient at year 3 of follow-up of €74 for cases and €383 for controls ( p = .02). Linear extrapolation of the reduction in costs beyond year 3 after enrolment in eHealth revealed that eHealth would be cost neutral or saving, relative to standard care, from year 4. Conclusion: IBD-related outpatient costs in both groups were similar and only significantly higher for cases in the year of their enrolment in eHealth, with admission costs typically falling after a patient's inclusion in eHealth. Estimation revealed eHealth to be cost neutral or saving from year 4.