Intravenous versus subcutaneous delivery of biotherapeutics in IBD: an expert’s and patient’s perspective

Scientific paper - Review paper

• Author: Laimas Jonaitis
• Author: Srdjan Marković
• Author: Klaudia Farkas
• Author: Liana Gheorghe
• Author: Željko Krznarić; MBZ: 75865
• Author: Riina Salupere
• Author: Viktorija Mokricka
• Author: Zoya Spassova
• Author: Dimo Gatev
• Author: Isabella Grosu
• Author: Anton Lijović
• Author: Olga Mitrović
• Author: Mateja Saje
• Author: Eszter Schafer
• Author: Viktor Uršič
• Author: Tina Roblek
• Author: David Drobne
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Internal Medicine)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Internal Medicine

Abstract (english)

Abstract Several biologic treatments are available in addition to intravenous also in subcutaneous form for treatment of chronic diseases. Benefits of the subcutaneous application of drugs include self-administration by the patient, shorter time of application process with less infusion related adverse events and consequently lower healthcare costs. With appropriate education and support patients are able to administer their treatments at home. This leads to improvement of quality of life, reduction of time needed to travel to the healthcare institution and consequently also reduces costs also for the patient. Over one million residents in the USA and 2.5 million in Europe are estimated to have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with substantial costs for health care. These estimates do not factor in the ‘real’ price of IBD, which can impede career aspirations, instil social stigma and impair quality of life in patients. The Virtual Community Meeting, which offered an exchange of experience and opinions from healthcare professionals who are active in treating IBD, and patients with this chronic disease, revealed in-depth arguments and answers to some essential questions: which patients prefer subcutaneous over intravenous dosing; which patients continue to favour intravenous infusions; what are the limitations regarding both applications; what is the patient’s role in therapeutical decision-making and how does IBD affect the patient’s work, finances and quality of life? The aim of this article is to discuss the differences between subcutaneous and intravenous dosing from the health-economic, scientific, and personal perspectives. The meeting offered strong confirmation that most of the patients and healthcare professionals prefer subcutaneous over intravenous drug administration but emphasise the management of risks associated with treatment compliance. Patient education provided by the IBD team in this regard is mandatory. Quality of life of patients is poorer during active disease, but the findings that it can improve over time, including as a result of home- or self-administration of biologics, may be encouraging for individuals with this chronic disease.

• Keywords (english): Biotherapeutics; Compliance; Inflammatory bowel disease; Intravenous administration; Quality of life; Subcutaneous administration
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Review paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: BMC Proceedings
• Numbering: vol. 15, no. S17, 25
• e-ISSN: 1753-6561
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-021-00230-7
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:568661
• Publication: 2021-12-09
• Document URL: https://bmcproc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12919-021-00230-7
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-02-03 09:32:23