Objectives: To estimate the possible economic effects of a sequential testing strategy with F-calprotectin to minimize colonoscopies.
Design and methods: Retrospective study in a third party payer perspective. The costs were calculated from initial F-calprotectin test results of 3639 patients. Two cut-off levels were used: 50 μg/g feces and 100 μg/g feces, respectively. The cost-effectiveness of the testing strategy was estimated through the short-term cost avoidance and reduction in demand for colonoscopies.
Results: The estimated demand for colonoscopies was reduced by 50% with the 50 μg/g cut-off and 67% with the 100 μg/g cut-off. This corresponded to a cost avoidance of approximately €1.57 million and €2.13 million, respectively.
Conclusions: The use of F-calprotectin as a screening test substantially could reduce the number of invasive measurements necessary in the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected IBD, as well as the associated costs.
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.