Faculty Collaboration Database

Cost-effectiveness of postexposure prophylaxis after sexual or injection-drug exposure to human immunodeficiency virus. Arch Intern Med 2004 Jan 12;164(1):46-54

Date

01/14/2004

Pubmed ID

14718321

DOI

10.1001/archinte.164.1.46

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0346057949 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   61 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The cost-effectiveness of interventions that provide human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to individuals after sexual or injection-drug use exposures depends on the distribution of exposure routes, prevalence of infection among source partners, adherence to PEP regimens, medical care costs, and prevailing epidemiologic contexts, among other factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive program to prevent HIV infection after sexual or injection-drug use exposure for 401 persons seeking PEP in an urban community.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cost analysis to evaluate the cost of the PEP intervention, then combined this information with model-based effectiveness estimates to determine the PEP program's "cost-utility ratio," which is the ratio of net program costs to the total number of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) saved by the program.

RESULTS: The average cost of the PEP regimen was $1222, and the total cost of the program was $450 970. The PEP program prevented an estimated 1.26 HIV infections, saved 11.74 QALYs, and averted $281 323 in future HIV-related medical care costs. The overall cost-utility ratio was $14 449 per QALY saved. When analysis was restricted to men reporting receptive anal intercourse, the savings in averted HIV-related medical care costs exceeded the cost of the program. The results were generally robust to changes in key parameter values but were sensitive to assumptions about the HIV transmission probability for receptive anal intercourse.

CONCLUSIONS: For this study population, HIV PEP was cost-effective by conventional standards and cost-saving for persons seeking PEP after male-male receptive anal intercourse.

Author List

Pinkerton SD, Martin JN, Roland ME, Katz MH, Coates TJ, Kahn JO

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Anti-HIV Agents
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Needle Sharing
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Retrospective Studies
Sexual Behavior
United States
Urban Population