As HIV-Infected People Live Longer, the Costs Are Greater

Projecting the future costs of caring for people with HIV infection is important for any country regardless of its resources. In this study from the U.K., researchers estimated the cost of treating HIV-infected people from 1997 to 2006 and then projected the cost for 2007 to 2013.

A total of 26,033 HIV-infected individuals (76% men; 51% white; 5% injection-drug users) were seen at 14 HIV care centers in the U.K. between 1997 and 2006. During this period, the number of patients receiving HIV care increased (from 16,075 in 1997 to 52,083 in 2006), as did the number of inpatient days for symptomatic people with and without AIDS. The annual cost of antiretroviral regimens also increased, but the proportion of overall treatment costs spent on ant…