The direct and indirect cost burden of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Objective: To estimate the direct medical and indirect (absenteeism and short-term disability) cost burden of Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC).

Methods: Data were obtained from 1999 to 2005 MarketScan databases. Twelve-month expenditures for patients with CD and UC were compared to expenditures among an equal number of propensity score matched comparison group patients. Regression analysis controlled for demographics and case-mix.

Results: Annual medical expenditures were significantly higher for commercially insured CD and UC patients compared to matched comparison group patients ($18,963 vs $5300 for CD patients, $15,020 vs $4982 for UC patients, respectively, all P < 0.001). Indirect costs were also high for employed patients with these conditions.

Conclusions: CD and UC are costly diseases with a significant cost burden related to health care utilization and productivity loss.