A Care Pathway for the Treatment of <scp>IBD</scp> Reduces Healthcare Costs and Is Cost‐Effective: Results of the Multicentre <scp>IBD</scp> Value Study

BACKGROUND: An advanced therapy care pathway (ACP) for the treatment of patients with IBD can reduce practice variation and improve outcomes. AIMS: This study aimed to estimate the effect of the ACP on costs and quality of life, and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the ACP. METHODS: A cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from a societal perspective. The ACP was implemented in six hospitals, and two hospitals in the same region served as controls. Costs and quality of life were assessed during a baseline period (December 2020-December 2021) and an intervention period after implementing the ACP (March 2022-March 2023). Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were derived from the EQ-5D-5L; disease control from the IBD-Control questionnaire. A difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis was conducted, and the net monetary benefit and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 1,173 patients were included (intervention n = 841, control n = 332). Baseline costs per patient were €23,259.96 in the intervention hospitals and €22,837.93 in the control hospitals. During the intervention period, costs decreased to €20,959.76 in intervention hospitals. This reduction was not observed in control hospitals (€22,191.21). The DiD-analysis showed cost savings of -€1933.69; QALYs (0.001) and disease control (0.15) did not change. The ICER indicated cost savings without compromising quality of life or disease control. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an ACP for the treatment of patients with IBD reduces costs, maintains quality of life and disease control, and is cost-effective. These results emphasise that the implementation of care pathways in current practices should be considered. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NL-OMON21751. Website: Value-based healthcare for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Improving (cost-) effectiveness.