OBJECTIVES : To assess the real-world burden of IPF regarding HCRU and costs, focusing on US and EU data.

METHODS : A targeted literature review identified publications reporting HCRU and cost data in adults (≥18 years) with IPF. Embase, MEDLINE and MEDLINE In-Process databases, and ISPOR, ATS and ERS abstracts were searched for publications from January 2009–December 2019 and January 2018–December 2019, respectively.

RESULTS : In total, 73 studies (from 94 publications) were analyzed, which included US (n=31) and EU studies (n=26); 24 studies examined cost-effectiveness or cost-utility; 73 examined cost and resource use. In the USA, annual hospitalization rate (all-cause) ranged from 30.2% to 59.0%; re-hospitalization rate was 28%. Mean annual number of hospital days ranged from 2.2 to 9.3. Total annual direct costs of IPF were between $16,042 and $59,379. Healthcare costs were higher for patients hospitalized for respiratory-related reasons and for acute exacerbations (vs all-cause) and were higher for patients requiring vs not requiring mechanical ventilation. In the EU, annual hospitalization rate (all-cause) was 40.4% in Belgium and Luxembourg and 42.6% in Germany. Hospital stay duration was between 5 and 11.9 days. Total annual direct costs ranged from €4,839 to €26,435 and were higher for patients with rapid disease progression vs stable patients.

Two studies reported costs associated with productivity loss (estimated to be CA$11,535 and £11,378 per patient per year in Canada and the UK, respectively). No studies addressed caregiver burden and related costs.

CONCLUSIONS : IPF was associated with high rates of HCRU and associated direct costs. Indirect costs of IPF from a societal perspective are poorly understood. Given the limited number of available studies, further research is needed to understand the economic impact of IPF.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS : We thank Shruti Sharma, Naveen Sharma and Rajni Srivastava (BresMed Health Solutions Ltd, Sheffield, UK) for conducting the literature search.