Healthcare resource utilization following ustekinumab initiation among bio-naïve Canadian patients with moderately-to-severely active Crohn's disease

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition.
• Bio-naïve patients represent a key treatment group for new therapies.
• Understanding real-world healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) is crucial for assessing treatment value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the real-world HCRU and associated costs in bio-naïve patients with moderately-to-severely active CD treated with ustekinumab.
• To evaluate ustekinumab persistence in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of bio-naïve Canadian adult CD patients treated with ustekinumab.
• Evaluation of CD-related HCRU (surgery, hospitalization, ER visits) at 4, 6, and 12 months post-initiation.
• Paired analysis of HCRU and costs during remission versus non-remission periods.

Main Results:

• By 12 months, 11.1% of patients experienced CD-related HCRU events, with ER visits being most common (7.7%).
• Hospitalization incurred the highest average cost, contributing significantly to the mean total annual cost per patient.
• Patients in remission had lower healthcare encounters (≤5%) compared to those not in remission (7%).
• Ustekinumab persistence was high, with 93.5% of patients continuing treatment at 12 months.

Conclusions:

• Ustekinumab treatment in bio-naïve CD patients is associated with lower HCRU rates and costs.
• Maintaining remission further reduces healthcare resource utilization and associated expenses.
• High treatment persistence suggests favorable real-world outcomes with ustekinumab in this population.