Accelerated infliximab infusions for inflammatory bowel disease improve effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management often involves biologic therapies like infliximab.
• Standard infliximab infusion protocols are time-intensive, potentially impacting patient convenience and healthcare resource utilization.
• Optimizing infusion protocols is crucial for improving patient experience and operational efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of accelerated infliximab infusion protocols (90-min and 60-min) in IBD patients.
• To assess the impact of accelerated infusions on cost savings and administration time.
• To determine patient satisfaction and adverse event rates associated with faster infusion rates.

Main Methods:

• Developed and implemented 90-min and 60-min infliximab infusion protocols.
• Enrolled IBD patients with at least four prior infusions into the accelerated protocol.
• Monitored patients for infusion reactions, adverse events, and cancer development; compared costs and time savings to standard 120-min infusions.

Main Results:

• Forty-six IBD patients received a total of 143 accelerated infusions (50 x 90-min, 93 x 60-min) without reported infusion reactions or adverse events.
• Significant cost savings of $53,632 and 118 hours were achieved compared to standard 120-min infusions (P = 0.001).
• No new cancers were diagnosed during the study period; higher BMIs in females were noted as a potential risk factor for Crohn's disease.

Conclusions:

• Accelerated infliximab infusions are safe and effective for IBD patients, leading to substantial cost savings and time efficiencies.
• This approach enhances patient satisfaction and optimizes healthcare resource allocation.
• This study represents the first US report of significant cost savings, improved safety, and patient satisfaction with accelerated infliximab infusion.