The economic burden of stomas in the UK: a retrospective observational study of health records and hospital encounters.

Background: Stomas divert waste from the small intestine (ileostomy), large intestine (colostomy) or ureters (urostomy), and complications are common.

Aims: This study evaluated healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and costs of stomas from a UK perspective.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of adults with new stomas (New Stoma Group) or new/existing stomas and >6 months of follow-up (Established Stoma Group) using health records linked with hospital encounters (January 2009-December 2018).

Healthcare resource use and associated costs for patients with an ileostomy experiencing peristomal skin complications.

Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) have a significant impact on quality of life and ostomy treatment costs. This study aimed to assess the healthcare resource use for patients with an ileostomy and PSCs symptoms. Two surveys were developed and, after validation by healthcare professionals and patients, data were collected on healthcare resource use while not experiencing any PSCs symptoms and while experiencing complications of various severities, as defined by the modified Ostomy Skin Tool.