Healthcare Utilization and Costs of Care in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation or Chronic Idiopathic Constipation After Initiating Oral Therapies: Real-World Analysis in the US Medicare Population

Abstract

Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) are common functional intestinal disorders which impact all age groups, yet there is limited comparative evidence on the economic benefits of treatment of these conditions on the elderly. We assessed differences in healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and total costs of care among Medicare-insured patients initiating linaclotide, lubiprostone, or plecanatide after 1 year.

Methods

Retrospective analysis from the Merative™ MarketScan^® Medicare Database (January 2017–September 2023), including adult patients who initiated a qualifying IBS-C/CIC medication (linaclotide, lubiprostone, plecanatide) (index date defined as date of initiation) and had at least 6 months of pre-index and 12 months of post-index continuous benefit coverage under fee-for-service Medicare plans. For HCRU and all-cause total cost (medical + pharmacy) outcomes, 12-month comparisons were characterized via count (for HCRU) or cost ratios between linaclotide and lubiprostone, and linaclotide and plecanatide. Generalized linear regression models adjusting for key baseline patient characteristics and 6-month pre-index HCRU and cost were used to estimate differences in outcomes at 12 months between treatment groups.

Results

A total of 7916 Medicare patients were included in the analysis, of whom 5773 initiated linaclotide, 1856 initiated lubiprostone, and 287 initiated plecanatide. After adjusting for key patient characteristics and pre-index HCRU, count ratios > 1 demonstrated that patients who received lubiprostone versus linaclotide had significantly greater HCRU (P < 0.05) at 12 months. After 12 months follow-up, adjusted all-cause total costs of care were significantly lower among patients who received linaclotide versus lubiprostone or plecanatide, largely driven by lower all-cause medical costs observed in patients who received linaclotide (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that linaclotide treatment may be associated with lower total healthcare costs compared to lubiprostone and plecanatide for patients initiating IBS-C/CIC-related drugs in Medicare populations.