ESTIMATING THE HUMANISTIC AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN ADULTS IN THE GULF REGION
Author(s)
Nada Korra, Pharm D1, Ahmad N. Fasseeh, Ph.D2, Abdallah Al Kalbany, Ph.D3, Abdel Hakim Kamal, MBBS,MD, MRCP(UK) ,ESEGH4, Abdulrahman Aloumi, MSc, PhD5, Ahmad Jazzar, American Board Internal Medicine&Gastroenterology6, Ahmed Al-Darmaki, Ph.D7, Ahmed Al Saegh, Ph.D8, Ahmad Ayash, Ph.D9, Anas Hamad, PhD, MSc, DMS, BSc, RPh10, Asiya AL Kindi, MSc11, Heba Al Farhan, Ph.D5, Jawad Khamis, Ph.D8, Khaled AlEjji, Ph.D9, Manal Alansari, MSc12, Maryam Alkhatry, MBBS, MD, MSc13, Mohammed Nabil Quraishi, PhD, FRCP, FEBGH14, Mohammad Shehab, MBBS, MRCP, Board of internal medicine5, Muna AlSafi, BPharm, PharmD, PGDip Health Econ15, Nicole Gebran, PharmD16, Rahul Nathwani, MD, FACG17, Sabaa AlHemyari, PhD Clinical Pharmacy18, Said Wani, BSc, MSc19, Sameer Alawadhi, MBChB20, Sara Al Dallal, MSc21, Suad Hannawi, BSc, MBBS, MRCP(UK), FRCP(UK), MIPH, PhD18, Suha Al Lawati, MSc22, Talal Al-Taweel, MBChB, MRCPS, MRCP, Kuwait Board, fellowship23, Waiel Al Naeem, MSc Clinical Pharmacy24, Zaher Koutoubi, MD25, Ahmed Roshdy, BPharm, Msc, Health economics diploma26, Amr Nasrallah, BPharm, MBA26, Sherif Abaza, MBA1;
1Syreon Middle East, Alexandria, Egypt, 21. Faculty of Pharmacy Alexandria Univeristy, Alexandria, Egypt 2. Syreon Middle East, Alexandria, Egypt, 3Ministry of Defence, Muscat, Oman, 4Mediclinic Welcare Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5Ministry of Health, Kuwait city, Kuwait, 6Burjeel Holdings – Jazzar Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Center, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 7Department of Medicine, Gastronetrology Unit, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, 8Ministry of Health, Manama, Bahrain, 9Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, 101. Pharmacy Department, National Center for Cancer Care & Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar 2. College of Pharmacy, QU Health Sector, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, 11Minsitry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 12Senior Pharmacist, Directorate General of Medical Supplies, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 131. Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates 2. Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Pure Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 15Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 16Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 171. Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2. Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 191. Center for Health Technology Assessment, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary 2. Center for Pharmacology and Drug Research & Development, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary 3. Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 20Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 21Emirates Health Economics Society, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22Pharmaceutical Care Department, Directorate General of Medical Supplies, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 23Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, Ministries Area, Kuwait city, Kuwait, 24Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 25Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
1Syreon Middle East, Alexandria, Egypt, 21. Faculty of Pharmacy Alexandria Univeristy, Alexandria, Egypt 2. Syreon Middle East, Alexandria, Egypt, 3Ministry of Defence, Muscat, Oman, 4Mediclinic Welcare Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5Ministry of Health, Kuwait city, Kuwait, 6Burjeel Holdings – Jazzar Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Center, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 7Department of Medicine, Gastronetrology Unit, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, 8Ministry of Health, Manama, Bahrain, 9Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, 101. Pharmacy Department, National Center for Cancer Care & Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar 2. College of Pharmacy, QU Health Sector, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, 11Minsitry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 12Senior Pharmacist, Directorate General of Medical Supplies, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 131. Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates 2. Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Pure Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 15Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 16Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 171. Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2. Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 18Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 191. Center for Health Technology Assessment, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary 2. Center for Pharmacology and Drug Research & Development, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary 3. Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 20Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 21Emirates Health Economics Society, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22Pharmaceutical Care Department, Directorate General of Medical Supplies, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman, 23Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, Ministries Area, Kuwait city, Kuwait, 24Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 25Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), place a significant burden worldwide. Despite extensive global evidence, data on IBD burden in the Gulf region remains limited. This study estimates the humanistic and economic burden of IBD among adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.
METHODS: A bottom-up approach was applied to estimate the burden. Input data were obtained from published literature and local expert questionnaires. Model findings were validated through meetings with local experts to ensure accuracy. Patients were classified into mild and moderate-severe groups. Humanistic burden was measured using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and economic burden was assessed through direct and indirect costs. To estimate the relative burden and allow comparability across countries, we calculated annual direct costs per population as a proportion of total health expenditure (THE) in each country.
RESULTS: Across all included countries, CD showed a higher humanistic burden, with an average of 10.4 DALYs per patient, compared with 6.7 DALYs for UC. Average annual direct costs per patient ranged from about 9,000-34,000 USD for CD, and 5,000-22,000 USD for UC across countries. These direct costs represent a substantial proportion of healthcare expenditure, ranging from 0.25% to 0.68% for CD, and 0.2% to 0.55% for UC. Indirect costs per patient averaged approximately 7,600 USD for CD and 4,000 USD annually for UC across all countries, with presenteeism accounting for most of the cost. Indirect costs represent 12% to 38% of the total economic burden of CD, and 13% to 42% of the total economic burden of UC.
CONCLUSIONS: IBD places a significant burden in the Gulf region through substantial direct and indirect costs as well as marked reductions in quality of life. The findings can guide the development of region-specific healthcare policies and resource-allocation strategies.
METHODS: A bottom-up approach was applied to estimate the burden. Input data were obtained from published literature and local expert questionnaires. Model findings were validated through meetings with local experts to ensure accuracy. Patients were classified into mild and moderate-severe groups. Humanistic burden was measured using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and economic burden was assessed through direct and indirect costs. To estimate the relative burden and allow comparability across countries, we calculated annual direct costs per population as a proportion of total health expenditure (THE) in each country.
RESULTS: Across all included countries, CD showed a higher humanistic burden, with an average of 10.4 DALYs per patient, compared with 6.7 DALYs for UC. Average annual direct costs per patient ranged from about 9,000-34,000 USD for CD, and 5,000-22,000 USD for UC across countries. These direct costs represent a substantial proportion of healthcare expenditure, ranging from 0.25% to 0.68% for CD, and 0.2% to 0.55% for UC. Indirect costs per patient averaged approximately 7,600 USD for CD and 4,000 USD annually for UC across all countries, with presenteeism accounting for most of the cost. Indirect costs represent 12% to 38% of the total economic burden of CD, and 13% to 42% of the total economic burden of UC.
CONCLUSIONS: IBD places a significant burden in the Gulf region through substantial direct and indirect costs as well as marked reductions in quality of life. The findings can guide the development of region-specific healthcare policies and resource-allocation strategies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE17
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Gastrointestinal Disorders