Inpatient, Outpatient, and Pharmacy Costs in Patients With and Without HIV in the US Veteran's Affairs Administration System

Economic Burden of HIV in a Commercially Insured Population in the United States

Background: With advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV infection are living longer. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce HIV infection risk continues to be underutilized in high-risk individuals. Recent data on economic burden for patients with newly diagnosed HIV-1 or initiated with PrEP are limited. Objectives: To assess characteristics, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and costs among adults and adolescents either with newly diagnosed HIV-1 or initiated with PrEP. Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized data from the IBM MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters database. Adults with newly diagnosed HIV-1 or those initiated with PrEP were included (index date was the first HIV diagnosis or PrEP prescription, respectively, between January 1, 2016, and April 30, 2021). Corresponding cohorts of adolescents were considered exploratory. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess baseline demographics and clinical characteristics, and all-cause and HIV-related HRU and costs per patient per month (PPPM) during follow-up. Results: Data from 18 154 adults and 220 adolescents with newly diagnosed HIV and 34 123 adults and 175 adolescents initiated with PrEP were included. Approximately 70% of adolescents and 9% of adults receiving PrEP were female. Baseline depression/anxiety was present in 16.1% and 24.6% of adults and 14.5% and 45.1% of adolescents in the HIV and PrEP cohorts, respectively. Substance abuse in the HIV and PrEP cohorts, respectively, was reported in 10.1% and 7.0% of adults, and 2.7% and 17.7% of adolescents. During follow-up, among adults with newly diagnosed HIV, mean (SD) total all-cause and HIV-related PPPM costs were $2657 ($5954) and $1497 ($4463), respectively; pharmacy costs represented 47% of all-cause costs and 67% of HIV-related costs, but only 37% of patients had an HIV-related prescription. All-cause costs PPPM for adults with PrEP were $1761 ($1938), with pharmacy costs accounting for 71%. Conclusions: Despite advances in ART, patients with newly diagnosed HIV and at-risk patients receiving PrEP continue to incur HRU costs. The chronic nature of HIV warrants further exploration of factors contributing to disease burden and opportunities to improve prevention strategies.

Trends and perioperative outcomes of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) undergoing lower extremity revascularization

The development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the life expectancy of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but has led to the rise of chronic conditions including peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, trends and outcomes among patients with HIV undergoing lower extremity revascularization are poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the trends and perioperative outcomes of lower extremity revascularization among patients with HIV and PAD in a national database. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was reviewed between 2003 and 2014. All hospital admissions with a diagnosis of PAD undergoing lower extremity revascularization were stratified based on HIV status. Outcomes were assessed using propensity score matching and multivariable regression. Among all patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization for PAD, there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients with HIV from 0.21% in 2003 to 0.52% in 2014 (p < 0.01). Patients with HIV were more likely to be younger, male, and have fewer comorbidities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes, at the time of intervention compared to patients without HIV. With propensity score matching and multivariable regression, HIV status was associated with increased total hospital costs, but not length of stay, major amputation, or mortality. Patients with HIV with PAD who undergo revascularization are younger with fewer comorbidities, but have increased hospital costs compared to those without HIV. Lower extremity revascularization for PAD is safe for patients with HIV without increased risk of in-hospital major amputation or mortality, and continues to increase each year.

Real-World Assessment of Weight Change in People with HIV-1 After Initiating Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors or Protease Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown an increase in weight among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) who have also initiated integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI). However, limited data are available regarding comparison of these changes with other antiretroviral regimens.

OBJECTIVE

To assess differences in weight gain after initiating INSTI- versus protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimens among treatment-naïve PLWH overall, and among a subpopulation of females only.

METHODS

This retrospective, observational cohort study included data from the Optum ^® deidentified Electronic Health Record (EHR) database. Adult PLWH who initiated INSTI- or PI-based regimens between March 1, 2016 and June 30, 2018 (index date was the first INSTI or PI prescription in this period) with ≥12-month baseline and follow-up periods, ≥1 weight measure during each period, and no prior antiretroviral use were included. The last weight measure between 12 months pre- and 30 days post-index was defined as baseline weight; the last measure between the months 4 and 12 of follow-up was defined as post-weight. Weight change was reported as absolute change and proportion of patients with increased weight. Cohorts were balanced using propensity score (PS) matching. Multivariable models were used to compare outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

After matching, 1588 patients were included (794 per cohort). At baseline, 46% were <50 years old, 26% were females, 12% had Type II diabetes and 30% had hypertension (mean baseline weight: INSTI: 83 kg (183 lb), PI: 82 kg (181 lb); P = 0.3). The mean time to follow-up weight measure was 9.3 months; INSTI initiators had a 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) greater mean weight gain (95% CI: 0.5-2.0), and a higher proportion with ≥5% weight gain (30.7% vs 26.1%; [OR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.6]) than PI initiators. Differences in weight gain between regimens were larger among females; female INSTI initiators had a 2.5 kg (5.3 lb) greater mean weight gain (95% CI: 0.7-4.2) and a higher proportion with ≥5% weight gain (37.5% vs 26.4%; OR=1.7; 95% CI [1.1-2.6]) than PI initiators.

CONCLUSION

In a real-world setting, compared to PI-based regimens, INSTI-based regimens are associated with greater weight gain for treatment-naïve PLWH. This study may inform HIV treatment choice for health care providers.