Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To describe survival patterns, use of health services and related costs for Australian children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cross-sectional survey was made of 20 children with HIV infection (91% of those diagnosed) and 13 children with maternal antibodies who subsequently seroreverted, treated at 10 medical centres. Details of disease progression and use of health services were obtained from hospital medical records. Monthly costs for three phases of infection were estimated by linking service usage rates with estimates of the unit cost of each service. The average lifetime cost was estimated by combining monthly costs and phase duration estimates from the literature. RESULTS: Patterns of disease progression were similar to those reported internationally, with a median survival of 8 years. Use of health services increased with severity of illness. Mean monthly costs were $120 per month (1992 Australian dollars) for children with maternal antibodies who subsequently seroreverted, $320 per month for children with HIV infection but no acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness, and $1830 per month for children with AIDS. The present value of total lifetime cost for a child with HIV infection was $48174, 46% of which was for treatment of AIDS. DISCUSSION: The mean lifetime cost for a perinatally infected child was just over half that for a man with HIV in Australia. Health service usage and costs were lower for Australian than American children with HIV.
Keywords: Australia Cross-Sectional Studies Drug Costs Female *Health Care Costs Human HIV Infections/*CONGENITAL/DRUG THERAPY/*ECONOMICS HIV Seropositivity/*CONGENITAL/DRUG THERAPY/ECONOMICS Infant, Newborn Male Patient Admission Retrospective Studies Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Survival Rate JOURNAL ARTICLE 961030
M96A1461
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
