Effects of the use of AZT on the medical care costs of persons with AIDS in the first 12 months.

It is important in planning to meet resource needs and financing of care of people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) to determine the effect of the use of azidothymidine (AZT) on overall medical care costs. This study compares the medical care costs of people with AIDS (PWAs) who received AZT with those of PWAs not receiving it. Seven of the nine PWAs who were on the AZT arm of the phase II drug trial of AZT at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) in 1986 and a matched sample of PWAs at SFGH who were eligible for the trial but did not participate in it were included in the study and followed for 12 months. It was found that costs in the first 12 months and especially in the first 6 months were lower for persons using AZT, primarily because of significantly lower use of hospital services. However, costs began to rise in the second 6 months for those using AZT. The authors therefore doubt that the lifetime costs of PWAs are lowered by the use of AZT and conclude that they are likely to be the same as those of PWAs not using the drug. If this is indeed the case, the use of the drug is likely to be relatively cost-effective.