A Narrative Review of Financial Burden, Distress, and Toxicity of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the United States

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect >3 million Americans and are associated with tremendous economic burden. Direct patient-level financial impacts, financial distress, and financial toxicity are less well understood. We aimed to summarize the literature on patient-level financial burden, distress, and toxicity associated with IBD in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a literature search of US studies from 2002 to 2022 focused on direct/indirect costs, financial distress, and toxicity for patients with IBD. We abstracted study objectives, design, population characteristics, setting, and results. RESULTS: Of 2,586 abstracts screened, 18 articles were included. The studies comprised 638,664 patients with IBD from ages 9 to 93 years. Estimates for direct annual costs incurred by patients ranged from $7,824 to $41,829. Outpatient costs ranged from 19% to 45% of direct costs, inpatient costs ranged from 27% to 36%, and pharmacy costs ranged from 7% to 51% of costs. Crohn’s disease was associated with higher costs than ulcerative colitis. Estimates for indirect costs varied widely; presenteeism accounted for most indirect costs. Severe and active disease was associated with greater direct and indirect costs. Financial distress was highly prevalent; associated factors included lower education level, lower household income, public insurance, comorbid illnesses, severity of IBD, and food insecurity. Higher degrees of financial distress were associated with greater delays in medical care, cost-related medication nonadherence, and lower health-related quality of life. DISCUSSION: Financial distress is prevalent among patients with IBD; financial toxicity is not well characterized. Definitions and measures varied widely. Better quantification of patient-level costs and associated impacts is needed to determine avenues for intervention.