Cost consequences of HIV-associated lipoatrophy.

HIV-associated lipoatrophy may affect up to 35% of patients who have received antiretroviral (ARV) regimens for more than one year, and may result in depression, social isolation, and career barriers. Interventions including the injection of dermal fillers for restoration of facial fat loss are being used for treating HIV-associated lipoatrophy. Since reimbursement is often lacking, patients must consider the pros and cons of such interventions, weighed against the other costs of daily life. The primary goal of the study is to provide reliable estimates of the costs of treating HIV-associated lipoatrophy, specifically facial lipoatrophy. Costs are provided for a single site and are estimated from published studies reporting administration patterns of dermal fillers, publicly available list prices, and physician service fees for similar subcutaneous injections of the face. Fourteen studies were identified that reported experience with five dermal fillers used to treat HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy: poly-L-lactic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, polyalkylimide gel, hyaluronic acid, and silicone oil. Typical courses involve four physician visits, but could vary from 1 to 13. The cost of a course of dermal filler treatment at a single site ranges across four products (all other than hyaluronic acid) from $3690 to $16,544, and is typically not covered by the payers. Physician fees for an entire course of similar outpatient procedures reimbursed by insurers are approximately $500, and may vary according to location, specialty, and market conditions. These procedures need to be repeated per site injected with intervals of 1-3 years. Treatment of HIV-associated lipoatrophy may represent a considerable out-of-pocket expense for many patients with HIV. This could have implications for deciding whether to undergo a restorative procedure, which procedure to undergo, and whether to pursue other options that may include switching ARV regimens.

[Cost of nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor-related toxicity in HIV-1-infected patients]. / Costes de la toxicidad asociada a los análogos de nucleósidos inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa en pacientes con infección por el VIH-1.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the impact of toxicity related to nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) on the total cost of medical care in HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: . A pharmacoeconomic model was developed from the data obtained by a prospective, observational, multicenter study performed in Spain (Recover). The study patients had developed one NRTI-associated adverse event (AE) that justified discontinuation of treatment with the drug. All costs derived from NRTI-associated AEs in the HAART regimens of HIV-1-infected patients over a period of one year were assessed. The cost assessment (2005 values) included direct medical costs (drugs and AE management) and indirect costs (loss of productivity). The healthcare resources used in AE management were estimated by an expert panel of clinicians. RESULTS: The use and cost of resources rose with increasing severity of all the AE. The average total cost per patient was estimated to be 4012 euro, which included 1789 euro in drug costs (NRTI associated with therapy discontinuation due to AE), and 2223 euro in direct and indirect costs of AE management (45% and 55% of total cost, respectively). Seventy-three per cent of AE-associated costs per patient came from lipoatrophy (560 euro), lipodystropy (535 euro) and peripheral neuropathy (533 euro). CONCLUSION: Management of NRTI-related toxicities is more costly than NRTI acquisition and produces a significant increase in the overall healthcare expenditure for HIV-1-infected patients. This fact should be taken into account when designing the most efficient antiretroviral treatment strategies.

Costes de la toxicidad asociada a los análogos de nucleósidos inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa en pacientes con infección por el VIH-1 / Cost of nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor-related toxicity in HIV-1-infected patients

Objetivo. Estimar el impacto de la toxicidad asociada a los inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa análogos de nucleósidos (ITIAN) en el coste total del tratamiento de pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 1 (VIH-1). Métodos. Se ha diseñado un modelo farmacoeconómico a partir de datos obtenidos de un estudio prospectivo, multicéntrico, observacional realizado en España (Estudio Recover). Los pacientes del estudio habían desarrollado un acontecimiento adverso (AA) asociado a un ITIAN que motivaba su suspensión. En el análisis se incluyen todos los costes derivados de la toxicidad inducida por los ITIAN en los tratamientos antirretrovirales durante un año. Los costes (valores del año 2005) incluidos han sido: médicos directos (fármacos y manejo de AA) e indirectos (pérdidas de productividad). La estimación de los recursos relacionados con el manejo de los AA se ha realizado a través de un panel de consenso de expertos clínicos. Resultados. El incremento en el uso y coste de recursos sanitarios se correlaciona con la gravedad de todos los AA evaluados. El coste promedio total estimado por paciente ha sido de 4.012 €: 1.789 € por costes farmacológicos (ITIAN asociados con la discontinuación de la terapia por AA) y 2.223 € por costes directos e indirectos del manejo de los AA (45 y 55%, respectivamente, de los costes totales). El 73% de los costes por paciente asociados a AA se deben a la lipoatrofia (560 €), lipodistrofia mixta (535 €) y neuropatía periférica (533 €). Conclusión. En pacientes que desarrollan toxicidades asociadas a ITIAN, el coste económico de su manejo es superior al coste de adquisición de los ITIAN y produce un incremento significativo en los costes totales del tratamiento de la infección por VIH-1. El coste del manejo de estas toxicidades debería tenerse en cuenta en el diseño de estrategias de tratamiento antirretroviral más eficientes (AU)

Objective. To estimate the impact of toxicity related to nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) on the total cost of medical care in HIV-1-infected patients. Methods. A pharmacoeconomic model was developed from the data obtained by a prospective, observational, multicenter study performed in Spain (Recover). The study patients had developed one NRTI-associated adverse event (AE) that justified discontinuation of treatment with the drug. All costs derived from NRTI-associated AEs in the HAART regimens of HIV-1-infected patients over a period of one year were assessed. The cost assessment (2005 values) included direct medical costs (drugs and AE management) and indirect costs (loss of productivity). The healthcare resources used in AE management were estimated by an expert panel of clinicians. Results. The use and cost of resources rose with increasing severity of all the AE. The average total cost per patient was estimated to be 4012 €, which included 1789 € in drug costs (NRTI associated with therapy discontinuation due to AE), and 2223 € in direct and indirect costs of AE management (45% and 55% of total cost, respectively). Seventy-three per cent of AE-associated costs per patient came from lipoatrophy (560 €), lipodystrophy (535 €) and peripheral neuropathy (533 €). Conclusion. Management of NRTI-related toxicities is more costly than NRTI acquisition and produces a significant increase in the overall healthcare expenditure for HIV-1-infected patients. This fact should be taken into account when designing the most efficient antiretroviral treatment strategies (AU)

Psychosocial impact of the lipodystrophy syndrome in HIV infection.

Lipodystrophy is a poorly understood condition associated with antiretroviral therapy in HIV infection. The symptoms may include some combination of central fat accumulation, peripheral fat depletion, and metabolic disturbance. A qualitative survey of 33 HIV-infected heterosexual women and gay men with lipodystrophy assessed psychosocial impact and effect on quality of life. Dominant themes included erosion of self-image and self-esteem, problems in social and sexual relations, threats to locus of control, forced HIV disclosure, and demoralization and depression. Another theme was clinicians' minimization of the importance of lipodystrophy. Further research is required to fully understand the psychosocial impact of lipodystrophy and to develop strategies that help individuals cope.