[The effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection on the consumption of hospital resources. A correlation with the degree of immunodeficiency].

BACKGROUND

To calculate the real cost of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in the use of hospital resources.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All the episodes of hospitalization of the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 of a general hospital have been analyzed. The patients have been classified according to the Patients Management Categories version 5.0 system. The patients with HIV infection were also classified according to the CD4+T-lymphocyte counts and the existence of AIDS. The derived cost of the stay and the consumption of diagnostic and complementary tests were calculated according to PMC Relative Intensity Score.

RESULTS

In 293 hospitalizations the hospital cost of the HIV patients ascended to 145,372,650 ptas, what represents 40,230,000 ptas 100,000 person-years. HIV patients presented mean of stay (12 vs 5 days, p < 0.001) and hospital cost (433,029 vs 218,646 ptas, p < 0.001), significantly higher than non-HIV patients. 79% of hospitalizations corresponded to patient with AIDS. As much the stay as the hospital cost vary significantly in function of the degree of immunologic deterioration (lymphocyte count and AIDS diagnostic). During the years of study a stabilization was observed in the cost and the hospital stay of these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV infection originates a high consumption of hospital resources, mainly in patient with advanced immunodeficiency. The hospital stay is very high to the general population. In the last years it seems to exist a tendency toward the stabilization in the use of hospital resources, possibly to expense of the non hospital cost.