LB083 - MALNUTRITION-RELATED HEALTHCARE COSTS IN HOSPITALIZED IBD PATIENTS: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS OF ITALIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH DATA (2015–2019)

LB083

MALNUTRITION-RELATED HEALTHCARE COSTS IN HOSPITALIZED IBD PATIENTS: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS OF ITALIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH DATA (2015–2019)

P. Sciattella¹, V. Pagella^2,3,*, E. P. Lanati²

¹CEIS - EEHTA, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, ²Lionhealth Società Benefit, ³Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Rationale: Malnutrition is a major and often underdiagnosed complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leading to worse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. However, global data on the economic impact of malnutrition in IBD remain limited and no data are available at the Italian level. This study aimed to assess the clinical and economic burden of malnutrition among hospitalized IBD patients in Italy, using national administrative data from Ministry of Health.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Italian National Hospital Discharge Database (SDO) from 2015 to 2019. Patients with a first hospitalization for IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) were included. Malnutrition was identified through specific ICD-9-CM codes. Patients were followed for 1 year to assess clinical outcomes (hospital mortality, length of stay, readmissions) and costs based on national DRG tariffs. Comparisons between patients with and without malnutrition were performed using 1:1 matching for age, sex, region and Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Results: Between 2015 and 2018, 64,307 patients were hospitalized with an IBD diagnosis, of whom 1,951 (3.1%) had a documented diagnosis of malnutrition. After matching, 3,682 patients were included. Malnourished patients had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (6.3% vs 4.5%), longer hospital stays (30 vs 16 days), and more annual readmissions (1.26 vs 0.71). The mean hospital cost per malnourished patient was €10,800 compared to €6,800 for non-malnourished patients (+59.9%). In 2018 alone, the additional cost attributable to malnutrition in IBD patients was estimated at €9 million.

Conclusion: This study confirms that malnutrition significantly impacts healthcare costs in IBD patients in Italy. These findings underline the need to implement routine nutritional screening and targeted clinical nutrition interventions within the care pathway of IBD patients to improve outcomes and optimize healthcare costs.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared