Drivers of cost after surgical and medical therapy for chronic ulcerative colitis: a nested case-cohort study in Olmsted County, Minnesota

Patients With Pouchitis Demonstrate a Significant Cost Burden in the First Two Years After Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis

Pouchitis, the most common long-term complication after colectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC), can lead to increased health care costs and diminished quality of life.1 In this study, we aimed to compare the total costs among patients diagnosed with pouchitis in the first 2 years after an IPAA with those among patients who were not diagnosed with pouchitis, using a large administrative claims database. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the specific drivers of cost among patients with an IPAA during the 2-year study period, including inpatient hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and pharmacy-related costs.

Elective and Emergent Surgery in the Ulcerative Colitis Patient

Ulcerative colitis (UC) requires surgical management in 20 to 30% of patients. Indications for surgery include medically refractory disease, dysplasia, cancer, and other complications of UC. Appropriate patient selection for timing and staging of surgery is paramount for optimal outcomes. Restorative proctocolectomy is the preferred standard of care and can afford many patients with excellent quality of life. There have been significant shifts in the treatment of UC-associated dysplasia, with less patients requiring surgery and more entering surveillance programs. There is ongoing controversy surrounding the management of UC-associated colorectal cancer and the techniques that should be used. This article reviews the most recent literature on the indications for elective and emergent surgical intervention for UC and the considerations behind the surgical options.

Short-term outcomes and healthcare resource utilization following incisional hernia repair with synthetic mesh in patients with Crohn's disease

PURPOSE

While the use of synthetic mesh for incisional hernia repair reduces recurrence rates, little evidence exists regarding the impact of this practice on the disease burden of a Crohn's patient. We aimed to describe the post-operative outcomes and healthcare resource utilization following incisional hernia repair with synthetic mesh in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

A retrospective review of adult patients with Crohn's disease who underwent elective open incisional hernia repair with extra-peritoneal synthetic mesh from 2014 to 2018 at a single large academic hospital with surgeons specializing in hernia repair was conducted. Primary outcomes included 30-day post-operative complications and long-term rates of fistula formation and hernia recurrence. The secondary outcome compared healthcare resource utilization during a standardized fourteen-month period before and after hernia repair.

RESULTS

Among the 40 patients included, six (15%) required readmission, 4 (10%) developed a surgical site occurrence, 3 (7.5%) developed a surgical site infection, and one (2.5%) required reoperation within the first 30 days. The overall median follow-up time was 42 months (IQR = 33-56), during which time one (2.5%) patient developed an enterocutaneous fistula and eight (20%) experienced hernia recurrence. Healthcare resource utilization remained unchanged or decreased across every category following repair.

CONCLUSION

The use of extra-peritoneal synthetic mesh during incisional hernia repair in patients with Crohn's disease was not associated with a prohibitively high rate of post-operative complications or an increase in healthcare resource utilization to suggest worsening disease during the first 4 years after repair. Future studies exploring the long-term outcomes of this technique are needed.

Risk Factors Associated With Hospital Readmission and Costs for Pouchitis

Background

Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication in patients with restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. This study aimed to identify readmission rates for pouchitis and risk factors associated with readmissions in an extensive national database.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis using the National Readmission Database to determine if patient demographics and clinical characteristics were predictors of hospital readmission within 30 days for adult patients (age >18 years) discharged with a principal diagnosis of pouchitis (ICD-9 code-569.71) from January 2013 to December 2013. Both univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to assess factors associated with 30-day readmission.

Results

A total of 1538 patients with pouchitis who were discharged alive were identified. 10.2% [95% confidence interval: 7.6, 12.7] of these were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. The average days to readmission were 18.6 ± 1.01. Multivariable analysis of risk factors associated with readmission showed older age as a protective factor for readmission [odds ratio (OR) = 0.88 (0.81, 0.96); P < 0.005]. Sex and the presence of permanent ileostomy were not associated with readmission in patients with pouchitis. The length of stay during readmissions was associated with postoperative wound infection [OR = 7.7 (94.0, 11.30); P < 0.001], ileus [OR = 4.5 (1.6, 7.4); P < 0.002], permanent ileostomy [OR = 3.7 (1.7, 5.7); P < 0.001], and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [OR = 3.2 (1.06, 5.3); P < 0.003].

Conclusions

Readmissions in pouchitis patients are frequent. Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ileus, permanent ileostomy, and postoperative wound infection is associated with increased length of stay in readmissions.

Use of the Rochester Epidemiology Project for Clinical Research in Colon and Rectal Surgery

The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), a longitudinal population-based database, is the largest epidemiologic database in the world. Originally established at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the REP has been instrumental in defining the natural history of disease states and the impact of treatment in a well-defined population. In the United States, the REP has made important contributions to the colon and rectal literature, largely because healthcare is fragmented with no unique identifier to longitudinally follow-up with a patient throughout the system over his or her lifespan. Investigation with the REP has provided insight to the economic burden associated with inflammatory bowel disease, the benefit of screening for colorectal cancer, and the natural history of Mekel's and diverticular disease. In addition to practice changing research, the REP can be used as a model for future linkage systems in the United States.

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 α (TNFα) 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-TNFα therapy. Anti-TNFα-treated patients reported high UC related-healthcare costs per 3 months (€5350). Medication use accounted for 92% of healthcare costs. UC-attributable healthcare costs were 3-fold higher in ileostomy patients compared with pouch patients (€1581 versus €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 (€483 versus €377; p < 0.23), but was significantly higher in anti-TNFα-treated patients (€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-TNFα-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-TNFα 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.