OBJECTIVES: Data concerning treatment reality in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) are limited in Germany. Aim of this cross-sectional study was to collect resource use data due to CD and quantify these from the perspective of the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany. METHODS: Between March 2006 and July 2007 patients from 24 ambulatory gastroenterological specialist practices and 2 hospitals were enrolled in an internet-based online database. Based on the collected data, the outpatient and inpatient visits, all incurred outpatient procedures as well as medication usage were determined and evaluated from the perspective of the Statutory Health Insurance. The year 2007 was selected as the price year. Sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Data from 511 CD-patients were collected, with 37 % being male. Patients were on average 41 years old. According to the calculations, an average CD-patient in Germany causes costs of €3799 per year from the perspective of the Statutory Health Insurance. The cost of €235 (6%) resulted from outpatient specialists visits due to gastroenterological and extra intestinal problems and €211 (6%) are due to outpatient procedures, e.g. colonoscopies. The cost of €774 (20%) resulted from inpatient care. The total of €2579 (68%) are medication costs; 58% of these costs are due to TNF-alpha-inhibiting medications. The costs increase with the severity of the disease. A patient with an active disease (CDAI>220) causes average annual costs of €5377 (inpatient: €1075; medication: €3875) being significantly higher in comparison to patients in remission (CDAI<150) with €3116 (inpatient: €645; medication: €2070). The results are robust. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to calculate costs due to CD from the perspective of the Statutory Health Insurance in Germany. To illustrate the costs from the societal perspective, indirect costs need to be included in the calculation in future studies.