Case fatality and health care costs in HIV-infected patients: evolution from 1992 to 2000 at Rouen University Hospital, France

Vital prognosis in HIV-infected patients has been improved by new therapies, leading to an increase in treatment and outpatient costs but lower inpatient care costs. The aim of the study was to compare the health care costs between 1992-1996 (first half) and 1996-2000 (second half) in HIV-infected patients at Rouen University Hospital. Hospitalization costs (including inpatient and outpatient care), infectious complication treatment and antiretroviral therapy costs were evaluated from a National Health Insurance viewpoint. Between 1992 and 2000, 1212 patients were admitted at least once. Total expenditure increased between the two periods from E13,660 to E27,567, i.e., a two-fold increase. During the same period, 125 deaths were avoided, and 3602 years of life were gained. The cost of one avoided death was E108,320 and the cost per life-year gained was E3776.