Hospital associated costs of treating patients with AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the hospital associated costs of caring for patients with AIDS.


METHODS
We reviewed the notes of all 40 patients with AIDS admitted to the Auckland Hospital infectious disease unit during 1988. We used the resource utilisation system (RUS) to determine costs.


RESULTS
Costs were maximal in the month of diagnosis of AIDS (ca $3500/month), falling thereafter to ca $1000/month until they rose again in the last months of life. Total costs were dominated initially by inpatient costs but subsequently by the costs of medicines.


CONCLUSIONS
The hospital costs associated with the care of AIDS patients are not spaced evenly throughout the illness. Extended life will not increase costs proportionately.
Carlson
R
R
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
Dickson
N
N
McDermott
J
J
Thomas
M
M
Ellis-Pegler
R B
RB
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D009520:New Zealand