The majority of the studies reported a high burden of work-related outcomes among inflammatory bowel disease patients regardless of the methodology used .
Inflammatory bowel disease patients experience a high burden in work-related outcomes .
BACKGROUND & AIMS Inflammatory bowel disease has considerable effects on work-related outcomes and leads to high societal costs due to sick leave and disability pension .
The aims of this study were to systematic ally review evidence on work-related outcomes that are relevant to productivity losses and to evaluate whether medical or surgical interventions have a positive impact on patients ' work ability .
Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Germany
Abstract Introduction : Inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD ) is a chronic condition that afflicts young adults in their economically productive years . The goal of this study was to determine the costs of IBD in Germany from a societal perspective , using cost diaries . Methods : Members of the German Crohn ’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Association who had IBD were recruited by post , and those who agreed to participate documented their IBD-associated costs prospect ively in a diary over 4 weeks . They documented their use of healthcare facilities , medications , sick leave and out-of-pocket expenditures , as well as general demographic information , the status and history of their IBD , and long-term disability . Item costs were calculated according to national sources . Cost data were calculated using non-parametric bootstrapping and presented as mean costs ( year 2004 ) over 4 weeks . Results : The cost diaries were returned by 483 subjects ( Crohn ’s disease : n = 241 , ulcerative colitis : n = 242 ) with a mean age of 42 years and an average disease duration of 13 years ( SD ± 8.09 ) . The cost diaries were regarded as ‘ easy to complete ’ by 89 % of participants . The mean 4-week costs per subject were € 1425 ( 95 % CI 1201 , 1689 ) for Crohn ’s disease and € 1015 ( 95 % CI 832 , 1258 ) for ulcerative colitis . Of the total costs for Crohn ’s disease , 64 % were due to indirect costs such as early retirement or sick leave and 32 % were due to direct medical costs . In contrast , of the total costs for ulcerative colitis , 41 % were due to direct medical costs and 54 % to indirect costs . Conclusions : This is the first comprehensive cost study for Crohn ’s disease and ulcerative colitis in Germany . The most important economic factors that influenced the cost profiles of both diseases were the long-term productivity losses due to an ongoing inability to work and the cost of medications . Results indicate significant cost differences between Crohn ’s disease and ulcerative colitis . This data provides initial cost estimates that can be analysed further with respect to cost determinants and disease-specific costs in the future
The majority of the studies reported a high burden of work-related outcomes among inflammatory bowel disease patients regardless of the methodology used .
Inflammatory bowel disease patients experience a high burden in work-related outcomes .
BACKGROUND & AIMS Inflammatory bowel disease has considerable effects on work-related outcomes and leads to high societal costs due to sick leave and disability pension .
The aims of this study were to systematic ally review evidence on work-related outcomes that are relevant to productivity losses and to evaluate whether medical or surgical interventions have a positive impact on patients ' work ability .