Depression and Health Care Use in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Depression frequently co-occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and is a driver in health care costs and use.

This study examined the associations between depression and total health care costs, emergency department [ED] visits, computed tomography [CT] during ED/inpatient visits, and IBD-related surgery among IBD patients.

Our sample included 331772 IBD patients from a national administrative claims database [Truven Health MarketScan® Database]. Gamma and Poisson regression analyses assessed differences related to depression, controlling for key variables.

Approximately 16% of the IBD cohort was classified as having depression. Depression was associated with a $17,706 (95% confidence interval [CI] [$16,892, 18,521]) increase in mean annual IBD-related health care costs and an increased incidence of ED visits (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] of 1.5; 95% CI [1.5, 1.6]). Among patients who had one or more ED/inpatient visits, depression was associated with an increased probability of receiving repeated CT [one to four scans, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of 1.6; 95% CI [1.5, 1.7]; five or more scans, aOR of 4.6; 95% CI [2.9, 7.3]) and increased odds of undergoing an IBD-related surgery (aOR of 1.2; 95% CI [1.1, 1.2]). Secondary analysis with a paediatric subsample revealed that approximately 12% of this cohort was classified as having depression, and depression was associated with increased costs and incidence rates of ED visits and CT, but not of IBD-related surgery.

Quantifiable differences in health care costs and patterns of use exist among patients with IBD and depression. Integration of mental health services within IBD care may improve overall health outcomes and costs of care.