Serological testing for coeliac disease in patients with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: a cost‐effectiveness analysis

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 19; no. 11; pp. 1199 - 1210
• Main Authors: Mein, S. M., Ladabaum, U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-06-2004; Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Celiac Disease - economics; Colonic Diseases, Functional - complications; Colonic Diseases, Functional - economics; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Decision Support Techniques; Digestive system; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal - economics; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Medical sciences; Monte Carlo Method; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prognosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serologic Tests - economics; Human; Immunopathology; Intestinal malabsorption; Health economy; Irritable bowel syndrome; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Coeliac disease; Cost efficiency analysis
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.01958.x

Summary
Background : Patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome may have coeliac disease.
Aim : To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of coeliac disease testing in suspected irritable bowel syndrome.
Methods : We used decision analysis to estimate the number of coeliac disease cases detected, quality‐adjusted life‐years gained, and costs resulting from testing suspected irritable bowel syndrome patients for tissue transglutaminase antibody or an antibody panel (tissue transglutaminase, gliadin, total immunoglobulin A). Positive tests prompted endoscopic biopsy. A gluten‐free diet improved quality of life in coeliac disease.
Results : Assuming a coeliac disease prevalence of 3%, tissue transglutaminase detected 28 and the panel detected 29 of 30 coeliac disease cases among 1000 suspected irritable bowel syndrome patients. The cost/case detected was $4600 with tissue transglutaminase and $8800 with the panel. The cost/quality‐adjusted life‐year gained with tissue transglutaminase was $7400, and the incremental cost/quality‐adjusted life‐year gained for the panel vs. tissue transglutaminase was $287 000. Tissue transglutaminase cost under $100 000/quality‐adjusted life‐year gained at a coeliac disease prevalence ≥1.1%, assuming a modest utility gain of 0.005 with coeliac disease diagnosis.
Conclusions : Testing for coeliac disease in patients with suspected irritable bowel syndrome is likely to be cost‐effective even at a relatively low coeliac disease prevalence and with small improvements in quality of life with a gluten‐free diet.