Length of hospital stay and associated hospital costs with infliximab versus cyclosporine in severe ulcerative colitis

Background Cyclosporine and infliximab (IFX) seem equally effective as rescue therapy in hospitalized patients with severe ulcerative colitis (UC), although associated hospital stay and costs may differ. Aim The aim of this study was to compare the duration of hospital stay and associated costs from initiation of rescue therapy to time of discharge in hospitalized patients with corticosteroid-refractory UC receiving cyclosporine or IFX. Colectomy rates after 6 months were used as the outcome parameter for treatment success. Patients and methods Hospital records of patients admitted between November 2003 and August 2012 at a tertiary referral center were analyzed. Results Forty-two patients were included (cyclosporine group: 26 patients; IFX group: 16 patients). Patient characteristics were comparable, with the exception that cyclosporine-treated patients more often had a pancolitis (89 vs. 63%, P=0.046). The median length of hospital stay was 11.0 (interquartile range 7.75–13.25) versus 4.0 days (interquartile range 4.0–5.75) in the cyclosporine and IFX group (P<0.01), respectively. The mean in-hospital costs were significantly higher in the cyclosporine-treated versus IFX-treated patients (6121 vs. 4853 euros, P<0.05), whereas the total costs up to 3 months after initiation of rescue therapy were significantly higher in the IFX group (6787 vs. 9983 euros, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in colectomy rates at 6 months (23 and 31% for cyclosporine and IFX, P=0.50). More side-effects were observed during treatment with cyclosporine. Conclusion Length of hospital stay and in-hospital costs have been reduced significantly since the introduction of IFX as rescue therapy for severe UC instead of cyclosporine. However, the total treatment costs are higher in IFX-treated patients.

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