Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who test positive for anti-CBir1 are likely to cost the healthcare system more, according to a recent study, suggesting that the antibody titer may serve as a marker to help determine the best management approach to these high-risk patients. Investigators evaluated clinical, serological and genetic markers suspected of having a relationship to inpatient health resource utilization among patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. They found:

• Among 858 IBD patients, including 562 with Crohn’s disease, anti-CBir1 seropositivity and low socioeconomic status were independently associated with greater use of health resources.
• However, a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease seemed to lower inpatient healthcare resource utilization in patients who required at least 1 visit to the ED or hospitalization.