COST OF MEDICATION THERAPY IN AMBULATORY HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use and cost associated with prescribed medi cations as well as the use of over-the-counter medications and nontrad itional therapies among ambulatory HIV-infected patients at Ryan White Title IIIb grantee centers. METHODS: Study participants (n = 223) wer e enrolled from eight centers across the US and Puerto Rico. Data were collected by a nurse, pharmacist, or physician through review of medi cal records and medication profiles. Information on the use of over-th e-counter drugs and alternative therapies was obtained from the patien ts. RESULTS: TWO hundred eleven (94.6%) patients received a mean +/- S D of 5.3 +/- 3.8 prescription medications during a consecutive 90-day period, The cost of medication was $1237.62 +/- $1751.49 per patient. Patients with a diagnosis of AIDS received a greater number of prescri ption drugs: an average of 6.6 compared with 3.4 among HIV-positive pa tients and 3.5 among asymptomatic patients. Antiretroviral agents were used by 143 (68.7%) patients. Zidovudine and stavudine had the highes t cost ($611.81 +/- $254.10 and $596.96 +/- $352.80, respectively). Ei ghty-one (40.9%) patients reported the use of at least one over-the-co unter product (range 0-11) and 11.8% reported use of alternative thera pies. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the cost of drug treatment for HIV -infected patients has remained stable since the early 1990s. However, it is anticipated this will change due to the introduction of new ant i-HN agents, greater use of combination therapies, greater use of prop hylactic therapies, and increased survival times.