OBJECTIVES

: The aim of the study is to estimate the disability insurance costs (social security system in Italy is financed by public expenditure) induced by patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and specifically for Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC) between 2009 and 2015.

METHODS

: We analysed the database about the disability insurance awards and the mean cost per benefit of the National Institute of Social Security (INPS) for two types of social security benefits: incapacity pensions ( IP - for people without work ability) and disability benefits (DB - for people with reduced work ability). From this data we have estimated the total benefit provided and the total costs for each disease. A probabilistic model with a Monte Carlo simulation was developed in order to estimate the total benefits provided and costs.

RESULTS

: For CD the model estimated a total cost from 2009 to 2015 for IP of €3.5 million (€500,000 on average annually) and for DB a total cost of €42 million (annual mean of €6 million). For UC the model estimated a total cost for IP of €4.2 million (with a mean annual cost of €600,000) and for DB a total cost of €84 million (with a mean annual cost of €12 million). CONCLUSIONS

: The most important disability insurance costs for MC and UC in Italy from 2009 to 2015 are due to DB (92% for MC and 95% for UC). A better prescription appropriateness and rapid access to innovative treatments would reduce the costs incurred by the social security system.