title: Specific considerations for cost-effectiveness studies in AIDS.
abstract: HIV disease is an epidemic with unique features that make it a challenging topic for pharmacoeconomic analysis. Unlike many other illnesses, the lengthy course of HIV disease, its relatively high incidence among young and productive individuals, and management of drug toxicities have an enormous impact on total costs. Methodologic difficulties discussed include strategies for handling the effect of having a few high-cost cases and for summarizing effectiveness. The advantages and disadvantages of different measures of effectiveness, such as health status, quality of life, and utility in the setting of HIV disease, as well as the scaling of measures and approaches to handling death, are also addressed.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents