HIV: Cost of Medication Therapy in Ambulatory HIV-Infected Patients

Abstract

Objective

To examine the use and cost associated with prescribed medications as well as the use of over-the-counter medications and nontraditional therapies among ambulatory HIV-infected patients at Ryan White Title IIIb grantee centers.

Methods

Study participants (n = 223) were enrolled from eight centers across the US and Puerto Rico. Data were collected by a nurse, pharmacist, or physician through review of medical records and medication profdes. Information on the use of over-the-counter drugs and alternative therapies was obtained from the patients.

Results

Two hundred eleven (94.6%) patients received a mean ± SD of 5.3 ± 3.8 prescription medications during a consecutive 90-day period. The cost of medication was $1237.62 ± $1751.49 per patient. Patients with a diagnosis of AIDS received a greater number of prescription drugs: an average of 6.6 compared with 3.4 among HIV-positive patients and 3.5 among asymptomatic patients. Anti-retroviral agents were used by 143 (68.7%) patients. Zidovudine and stavudine had the highest cost ($611.81 ± $254.10 and $596.96 ± $352.80, respectively). Eighty-one (40.9%) patients reported the use of at least one over-the-counter product (range 0–11) and 11.8% reported use of alternative therapies.

Conclusions

This study shows the cost of drug treatment for HIV-infected patients has remained stable since the early 1990s. However, it is anticipated this will change due to the introduction of new anti-HIV agents, greater use of combination therapies, greater use of prophylactic therapies, and increased survival times.