HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION AND ECONOMIC BURDEN BY COMORBIDITY STATUS IN IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS: A US REAL-WORLD CLAIMS STUDY
Author(s)
Zhongyi Deng, MSc1, Stefan Karrasch, PhD2, Peter Alter, PhD3, Jürgen Behr, PhD4, Rudolf A. Jörres, PhD2.
1Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), LMU Medizin,Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany, 2Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany, 3Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany, 4Department of Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
1Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), LMU Medizin,Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany, 2Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany, 3Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg (UMR), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany, 4Department of Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with substantial healthcare burden. Comorbidities are common in IPF, but their economic burden remains unclear. This study quantified all-cause healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs among patients with IPF by comorbidity status.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Optum® claims database from 2014 to 2025. Adults with IPF were identified by ≥2 medical claims with an IPF diagnosis code within 365 days; the first observed diagnosis was the index date. Patients required continuous enrolment for 12 months before and 3 months after index. Baseline comorbidities were assessed during the 12-month pre-index period. Comorbidity status was defined as presence versus absence of each selected comorbidity. All-cause HCRU and costs during follow-up were reported as per patient per month (PPPM); costs were adjusted to 2025 US dollars.
RESULTS: Among 13,716 patients with IPF, median age was 78 years and 59% were male. Mean (SD) total all-cause PPPM cost was $5,062 ($9,210). Patients with selected comorbidities had higher HCRU and costs than those without the corresponding condition, driven primarily by inpatient use. Costs varied across subgroups, with the highest mean (SD) PPPM cost observed among patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH; $7,085 [$11,063]). Mean (SD) total PPPM costs were $6,348 ($10,498) for obstructive sleep apnea, $6,264 ($11,570) for coronary heart disease, $6,160 ($10,708) for heart failure, and $6,051 ($10,475) for obesity. Inpatient and pharmacy costs accounted for a large share of total costs, although the dominant component varied by comorbidity.
CONCLUSIONS: All-cause HCRU and costs varied across comorbidity groups among patients with IPF. The highest costs were observed in patients with PH and consistently elevated in patients with cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. These findings highlight the impact of coexisting conditions on HCRU and the relevance of integrated management of IPF patients.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Optum® claims database from 2014 to 2025. Adults with IPF were identified by ≥2 medical claims with an IPF diagnosis code within 365 days; the first observed diagnosis was the index date. Patients required continuous enrolment for 12 months before and 3 months after index. Baseline comorbidities were assessed during the 12-month pre-index period. Comorbidity status was defined as presence versus absence of each selected comorbidity. All-cause HCRU and costs during follow-up were reported as per patient per month (PPPM); costs were adjusted to 2025 US dollars.
RESULTS: Among 13,716 patients with IPF, median age was 78 years and 59% were male. Mean (SD) total all-cause PPPM cost was $5,062 ($9,210). Patients with selected comorbidities had higher HCRU and costs than those without the corresponding condition, driven primarily by inpatient use. Costs varied across subgroups, with the highest mean (SD) PPPM cost observed among patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH; $7,085 [$11,063]). Mean (SD) total PPPM costs were $6,348 ($10,498) for obstructive sleep apnea, $6,264 ($11,570) for coronary heart disease, $6,160 ($10,708) for heart failure, and $6,051 ($10,475) for obesity. Inpatient and pharmacy costs accounted for a large share of total costs, although the dominant component varied by comorbidity.
CONCLUSIONS: All-cause HCRU and costs varied across comorbidity groups among patients with IPF. The highest costs were observed in patients with PH and consistently elevated in patients with cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. These findings highlight the impact of coexisting conditions on HCRU and the relevance of integrated management of IPF patients.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE118
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)