Clinical and economic impact of infliximab one-hour infusion protocol in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: A multicenter study

Table 1 Traditional vs short infusion protocols time duration

	Traditional infusion(min)	Short infusion(min)
Observation phase	90	60
Infusion phase	120	60
Total minutes	210	120
Total hours	3.5	2

Table 2 Demographics and characteristics of patients

Gender
Male	77 (61.6%)
Female	48 (38.4%)
Mean age at diagnosis	33.6 (range: 10-80)
Smoke
No	76 (70.8%)
Yes	26 (20.8%)
Former	23 (18.4%)
Family history
No	106 (84.8%)
Yes	19 (15.2%)
Appendicectomy
No	116 (92.8%)
Yes	9 (7.2%)
Characteristics of disease
Ulcerative colitis	64 (51.2%)
Crohn’s disease	61 (48.8%)
Duration of disease at 1st infusion (median)	52 mo (IQR: 16-110.5)
Duration of follow-up (median)	34 mo (IQR: 19-55.5)

Table 3 Indication for biologic, concomitant therapies and premedication

Patients treated with IFX (total 125)
Indication for IFX
Steroid-dependent	77 (61.6%)
Steroid-resistant	16 (12.8%)
Rescue therapy severe UC	3 (2.4%)
EIM	0
Failure of thiopurine	12 (9.6%)
Fistulizing disease	7 (5.6%)
Prevention of postoperative recurrence	1 (0.8%)
Indication for IFX (dual indication)
Steroid-dependent + EIM	3 (2.4%)
Steroid-dependent + failure of thiopurine	3 (2.4%)
Steroid-dependent + fistulzing disease	1 (0.8%)
Fistulizing disease + EIM	2 (1.6%)
Total infusions (mean)	20 (range: 4-60)
Short infusion (mean)	6.1 (range: 1-19)
Concomitant therapies
None	12 (9.6%)
Steroids	25 (20%)
Thiopurine	10 (8%)
Methotrexate	2 (1.6%)
5ASA	56 (44.8%)
Concomitant therapies (polipharmacy)
Steroids + thiopurine	1 (0.8%)
Steroids + 5ASA	4 (3.2%)
Steroids + thiopurine + 5ASA	3 (2.4%)
Thiopurine/methotrexate + 5ASA	12 (9.6%)
Total use of steroids	33 (26.4%)
Total COMBO therapy (Thiopurine or Mtx)	28 (22.4%)
Total use of mesalamine	75 (60%)
Premedication
None	57 (45.6%)
Steroids	51 (40.8%)
Antihistaminic	1 (0.8%)
Steroids + antihistaminic	16 (12.8%)
Time of premedication
None	57 (45.6%)
From first infusion	65 (52%)
From second Infusion	3 (2.4%)
Only short infusion	0

IFX: Infliximab; EIM: Excitability-inducing material; UC: Ulcerative colitis; 5ASA: 5-aminosalicylates.

Table 4 Infusion time and indirect cost savings: Traditional vs short infusion protocol

	w/out SI (min)	w SI (min)	Delta (min)	Saving (min)	Delta %	Hours	Saving indirect costs (€)
Infusion time	300120	254400	-45.72	-45720	-15%	-762	-11.525
Post infusion time	225090	202230	-22.86	-22860	-10%	-381	-5.763
Total time	525210	456630	-68.58	-68580	-13%	-1143	-17.288
Costsaving/patient						-9	-138