A care pathway for the treatment of IBD reduces healthcare costs and is cost‐effective: Results of the multicentre IBD value study

Background : An advanced therapy care pathway (ACP) for the treatment of patients with IBD can reduce practice variation and improve outcomes.

Aims : This study aimed to estimate the effect of the ACP on costs and quality of life, and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the ACP.

Methods : A cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from a societal perspective. The ACP was implemented in six hospitals, and two hospitals in the same region served as controls. Costs and quality of life were assessed during a baseline period (December 2020–December 2021) and an intervention period after implementing the ACP (March 2022–March 2023). Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were derived from the EQ-5D-5L; disease control from the IBD-Control questionnaire. A difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis was conducted, and the net monetary benefit and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated.

Results : In total, 1,173 patients were included (intervention n = 841, control n = 332). Baseline costs per patient were €23,259.96 in the intervention hospitals and €22,837.93 in the control hospitals. During the intervention period, costs decreased to €20,959.76 in intervention hospitals. This reduction was not observed in control hospitals (€22,191.21). The DiD-analysis showed cost savings of −€1933.69; QALYs (0.001) and disease control (0.15) did not change. The ICER indicated cost savings without compromising quality of life or disease control.

Conclusions : The implementation of an ACP for the treatment of patients with IBD reduces costs, maintains quality of life and disease control, and is cost-effective. These results emphasise that the implementation of care pathways in current practices should be considered. Trial registration number: NL-OMON21751. Website: Value-based healthcare for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Improving (cost-) effectiveness.