OBJECTIVES: High consumption of stoma appliances or supporting products can indicate stoma-related challenges e.g., leakage issues and/or peristomal skin complications. The objective of this retrospective register-based analysis was to assess differences in consumption of stoma appliances (bags and plates) and supporting products the first year after stoma creation in Sweden.

METHODS: Subjects with a stoma creation between 2006-2019 were retrospectively identified in the Swedish national registries and matched 1:2 with controls. Subgroups were created based on ICD-10 codes to differentiate among people living with either a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy. Utilization of stoma appliances and supporting products was assessed by applying product consumption codes.

RESULTS: A total of 41,059 persons living with a stoma were identified of which 19,666 (48%) had a colostomy, 16,458 (40%) had an ileostomy and 4,935 (12%) had an urostomy. In year 1 after stoma creation, the average total stoma appliance costs were highest for the colostomy subgroup amounting to €2,844 whereas costs for the ileostomy subgroup were €2,626 and €2,675 for the urostomy subgroup respectively. Total costs relating to stoma appliances versus supporting products were €2,338 and €510 respectively for the colostomy subgroup. For the ileostomy subgroup and the urostomy subgroups, the costs were €1,882 and SEK €744, and €2,085 and €590 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: For persons with a newly created stoma, the total cost for both stoma appliances and supporting products combined were similar across the three subgroups. However higher total costs relating to supporting products were observed for the ileostomy subpopulation, which could indicate higher stoma-related challenges with e.g., leakage and peristomal skin complications. Further research is needed within this specific group.