Med Econ. 2024 Dec 20:1-15. doi: 10.1080/13696998.2024.2444833. Online ahead of print.

T E Detlie ¹, L N Karlsen ², E Jørgensen ³, N Nanu ⁴, R F Pollock ⁴

Author information

¹Department of Gastroenterology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.

²Department of Internal Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.

³Oecona AS, Oslo, Norway.

⁴Covalence Research Ltd, Harpenden, UK.

Abstract

Aims: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is among the most common extraintestinal sequelae of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Intravenous iron is often the preferred treatment in patients with active inflammation with or without active bleeding, iron malabsorption, or intolerance to oral iron. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cost-utility of ferric derisomaltose (FDI) versus ferric carboyxymaltose (FCM) in patients with IBD and IDA in Norway.

Materials and methods: A published patient-level simulation model was used to evaluate the cost-utility of FDI versus FCM in patients with IBD and IDA from a Norwegian national payer perspective. Iron need was modelled based on bivariate distributions of hemoglobin and bodyweight combined with simplified tables of iron need from the FDI and FCM summaries of product characteristics. Patient characteristics and disease-related quality of life data were obtained from the PHOSPHARE-IBD trial. Cost-utility was evaluated in Norwegian Kroner (NOK) over a five-year time horizon.

Results: Patients required 1.64 fewer infusions of FDI than FCM over five years (5.62 versus 7.26), corresponding to 0.41 fewer infusions per treatment course. The reduction in the number of infusions resulted in cost savings of NOK 7,720 (NOK 35,830 with FDI versus NOK 43,550 with FCM). The need for phosphate testing in patients treated with FCM resulted in further cost savings with FDI (no costs with FDI versus NOK 4,470 with FCM). Total cost savings with FDI were therefore NOK 12,190. FDI also increased quality-adjusted life expectancy by 0.071 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) driven by reduced incidence of hypophosphatemia and fewer interactions with the healthcare system.

Conclusions: FDI resulted in cost savings and improved quality-adjusted life expectancy versus FCM in patients with IDA and IBD in Norway. FDI therefore represents the economically preferable iron formulation in Norwegian patients with IBD and IDA in whom it is indicated.