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. 2022 Jul;56(1):110-120.
doi: 10.1111/apt.16939. Epub 2022 May 1.

Direct healthcare costs of Rome IV or Rome III-defined irritable bowel syndrome in the United Kingdom

Vivek C Goodoory  1   2 , Cho Ee Ng  3 , Christopher J Black  1   2 , Alexander C Ford  1   2
Affiliations

Direct healthcare costs of Rome IV or Rome III-defined irritable bowel syndrome in the United Kingdom

Vivek C Goodoory et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022 Jul.

Abstract
in English, Somali

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated a substantial economic impact of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Aims: To provide contemporaneous estimates of direct healthcare costs of IBS in the United Kingdom.

Methods: We collected demographic, gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms, quality of life and healthcare usage data from adults with Rome IV or Rome III IBS in the United Kingdom. We calculated the mean annual direct healthcare costs of IBS per person and used contemporaneous IBS prevalence data, together with census data, to estimate annual direct costs of IBS. We also examined predictors of higher costs.

Results: The mean annual direct cost of IBS per person among 752 individuals with Rome IV IBS was £556.65 (SD £1023.92) and £474.16 (SD £897.86) for 995 individuals with Rome III IBS. We estimate the annual direct healthcare cost of IBS in the United Kingdom is £1.27 billion if the Rome IV criteria are used to define IBS, and £2.07 billion using Rome III. Among individuals with Rome IV IBS, mean annual costs were higher in those with opiate use (£907.90 vs £470.58, p < 0.001), more severe symptoms (p < 0.001 for trend), a shorter duration of IBS (1 year, £1227.14 vs >5 years £501.60, p = 0.002), lower quality of life (p < 0.001 for trend), and higher depression, somatisation and gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety scores (P < 0.001 for trend for all).

Conclusion: We estimate annual direct healthcare costs of IBS of between £1.3 and £2 billion in the United Kingdom.

Using data from over 750 individuals we provide a contemporaneous estimate of the mean annual direct costs of managing IBS to the United Kingdom health service of more than £1.2 billion, if the Rome IV criteria are used to define IBS, and more than £2 billion with Rome III. Mean annual direct healthcare costs were higher in those who used opiates, and those with more severe IBS symptoms, lower quality of life, a shorter duration of disease, and higher levels of depression, somatisation, and gastrointestinal symptom‐specific anxiety. Effective multidisciplinary management of IBS is important to reduce the economic burden that the condition represents to the healthcare system.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Mean annual direct costs of IBS among 752 individuals with Rome IV IBS and 995 individuals with Rome III IBS
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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