Infliximab Introduction Has Not Cut IBD-Related Hospitalizations

Marketplace introduction of infliximab has not resulted in reductions in the population rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related hospitalizations or intestinal resections or colectomies, according to a study published online June 13 in Gut.

Sanjay K. Murthy, M.D., from the University of Ottawa in Canada, and colleagues used health administrative data to study adults with Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) between 1995 and 2012. The impact of infliximab introduction on the rates of IBD-related hospitalizations, intestinal resections, and public payer drug costs was examined over 10 years among patients with CD and five years among patients with UC.

The researchers found that marketplace introduction of infliximab did not produce significant declines in the rates of CD-related hospitalizations or intestinal resections or in the rates of UC-related hospitalizations or colectomies relative to what would have been expected in the absence of infliximab. Among infliximab users, the findings were similar, except that hospitalization rates declined significantly among UC patients following marketplace introduction of infliximab (odds ratio, 0.515). Among CD patients, following infliximab introduction, there was a threefold increase over expected trends in public payer costs (odds ratio, 2.98); no significant change was seen among UC patients.

"Ultimately, clinicians, policy makers and payers must understand how to optimize use and access of this proven therapy to maximally impact patient morbidity and thereby justify the escalating costs associated with this treatment," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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