title: In-patient care for symptomatic, HIV-infected persons: a longitudinal study of hospitalizations, in-patient drug use, and related costs.
abstract: Patterns in the costs of hospital in-patient care and in-patient drug treatment of 121 symptomatic, HIV-infected patients are described for a university hospital between 1987 and 1991. Trend analyses have been performed on quarterly and yearly data using parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques. During the 5-year study period the demand for hospital beds almost quadrupled despite a constant number of admissions per person-year and a 40% decrease in the average length of stay. The demand for beds was highest in the autumn and winter months. The impact of female and/or heterosexual subgroups on the yearly utilization of resources increased and reasons for hospitalization became more diverse; there were fewer hospitalizations for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia infection. Antimicrobial drug treatment accounted for the increased drug treatment costs. The implications for AIDS-treating specialists, hospital managers, and scenario analysts are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dijkgraaf
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Luijben
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jager
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schrijvers
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borleffs
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D014600:Utilization Review
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents