Objective To estimate selected direct medical care costs of children with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP). Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of data from INSPPIRE (International Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE), a multinational registry of children with ARP or CP. We determined health care utilization and estimated costs of hospitalizations, surgical and endoscopic procedures, and medications in our study population. Health care utilization data were obtained from all subjects enrolled in the study, and costs were calculated using national United States costs. Results We included 224 subjects (median age 12.7 years), 42% of whom had CP. Mean number of hospitalizations, including for surgery and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), was 2.3/person/year, costing an estimated average $38,755/person/year. Including outpatient medications, estimated total mean cost was $40,589/person/year. Subjects utilizing surgical procedures or ERCP incurred mean annual costs of $42,951/person and $12,035/person, respectively. Estimated annual costs of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, diabetic medications, and pain medications were $4,114, $1,761, and $614 per person, respectively. In an exploratory analysis, patients with the following characteristics appear to accrue higher costs than those without them: more frequent ARP attacks/year, reported constant or episodic pain, family history of pancreatic cancer, and use of pain medication. Conclusions ARP and CP are uncommon childhood conditions. The severe burden of disease associated with these conditions and their chronicity results in high healthcare utilization and costs. Interventions that reduce the need for hospitalization could lower costs for these children and their families.
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