Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Direct treatment costs of HIV/AIDS in Portugal. / Perelman, Julian; Alves, Joana; Miranda, Ana Cláudia et al.
In: Revista de saúde pública, Vol. 47, No. 5, 10.2013, p. 865-872.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct treatment costs of HIV/AIDS in Portugal
AU - Perelman, Julian
AU - Alves, Joana
AU - Miranda, Ana Cláudia
AU - Mateus, Ceu
AU - Mansinho, Kamal
AU - Antunes, Francisco
AU - Oliveira, Joaquim
AU - Poças, José
AU - Doroana, Manuela
AU - Marques, Rui
AU - Teófilo, Eugénio
AU - Pereira, João
PY - 2013/10
Y1 - 2013/10
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the direct medical costs of HIV/AIDS in Portugal from the perspective of the National Health Service.METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for 150 patients from five specialized centers in Portugal in 2008. Data on utilization of medical resources during 12 months and patients' characteristics were collected. A unit cost was applied to each care component using official sources and accounting data from National Health Service hospitals.RESULTS: The average cost of treatment was 14,277 €/patient/year. The main cost-driver was antiretroviral treatment (€ 9,598), followed by hospitalization costs (€ 1,323). Treatment costs increased with the severity of disease from € 11,901 (> 500 CD4 cells/µl) to € 23,351 (CD4 count ≤ 50 cells/ µl). Cost progression was mainly due to the increase in hospitalization costs, while antiretroviral treatment costs remained stable over disease stages.CONCLUSIONS: The high burden related to antiretroviral treatment is counterbalanced by relatively low hospitalization costs, which, however, increase with severity of disease. The relatively modest progression of total costs highlights that alternative public health strategies that do not affect transmission of disease may only have a limited impact on expenditure, since treatment costs are largely dominated by constant antiretroviral treatment costs.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To analyze the direct medical costs of HIV/AIDS in Portugal from the perspective of the National Health Service.METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for 150 patients from five specialized centers in Portugal in 2008. Data on utilization of medical resources during 12 months and patients' characteristics were collected. A unit cost was applied to each care component using official sources and accounting data from National Health Service hospitals.RESULTS: The average cost of treatment was 14,277 €/patient/year. The main cost-driver was antiretroviral treatment (€ 9,598), followed by hospitalization costs (€ 1,323). Treatment costs increased with the severity of disease from € 11,901 (> 500 CD4 cells/µl) to € 23,351 (CD4 count ≤ 50 cells/ µl). Cost progression was mainly due to the increase in hospitalization costs, while antiretroviral treatment costs remained stable over disease stages.CONCLUSIONS: The high burden related to antiretroviral treatment is counterbalanced by relatively low hospitalization costs, which, however, increase with severity of disease. The relatively modest progression of total costs highlights that alternative public health strategies that do not affect transmission of disease may only have a limited impact on expenditure, since treatment costs are largely dominated by constant antiretroviral treatment costs.
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Female
KW - HIV Infections
KW - Health Care Costs
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Portugal
KW - Retrospective Studies
U2 - 10.1590/S0034-8910.2013047004598
DO - 10.1590/S0034-8910.2013047004598
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24626490
VL - 47
SP - 865
EP - 872
JO - Revista de saúde pública
JF - Revista de saúde pública
SN - 1518-8787
IS - 5
ER -