Effects of fistula on healthcare costs and utilization for patients with Crohnʼs disease treated in a managed care environment

Abstract

Fistulas are often a difficult and costly complication of CD. This study determined that patients with fistulizing CD have higher healthcare costs and resource consumption than patients without fistula. Use of therapies that heal fistulas may help deter some of the high costs and intensive resource utilization found in this study. Economic analyses need to account for these issues when assessing the cost-effectiveness of therapies targeting fistulizing disease.