Despite CD4 cell count rebound the higher initial costs of medical care for HIV-infected patients persist 5 years after presentation with CD4 cell counts less than 350 mul.

摘要

We determined that for HIV patients presenting with CD4 cell counts less than 350 mul the initial higher costs of care persisted over 5 years. Fifty-nine percent of new patients between 1 April 1998 and 1 April 2003 had CD4 cell counts less than 350 mul. Mean first year total costs (Dollars 19 917 Dollars Cdn) were 2.5 times higher than for presentations with CD4 cell counts more than 350 mul (Dollars 7840). Total annual costs of care subsequently decreased to Dollars 15 663 by year 5, but still remained higher (Dollars 8883) than those with CD4 cell counts more than 350 mul despite a median CD4 cell count increase from 134 to 464 mul.