Maintenance therapy with Infliximab reduces hospitalization and surgery in Crohn's disease

Objective: To assess the impact of maintenance versus episodic infliximab therapy on hospitalizations and surgery in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: A retrospective analysis of claims data was conducted from the Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters database from 2000 to 2003 for claimants with CD (ICD-9 codes, 555.0, 555.1, 555.2 or 555.9) who had an induction regimen (3 infusions) of infliximab in 2003. Continuous enrollment for 12 months pre and 12 months post the index infusion date in 2003 was required. Patients were excluded if they had infliximab infusions in 2001 or 2002. Cohort analys…