ABSTRACT
Background: Medical care of HIV infected and AIDS patients may represent an important economical burden for public hospitals. Aim: To assess direct and indirect costs of medical care for HIV infected and AIDS patients in public hospitals of the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Material and methods: Between August 1994 and February 1995, information about outpatient and hospitalized medical care of 417 HIV infected patients was gathered (representing approximately 16 percent of the seropositive population). Patients were divided as having or not having AIDS. The latter were those included in groups I, II, III and category C2 of group C (group 4). The cost of medications, procedures and examinations of these patients was calculated. Results: Thirty six percent of studied patients had AIDS. The annual cost of care for AIDS patients was US$3760 compared to US$1450 for HIV infected patients without AIDS. Medication represented 75 percent and 65 percent of total costs in patients with and without AIDS respectively. The figures for examination and procedures were 17 percent and 22 percent and for medical attentions were 7.5 percent and 8.8 percent respectively. Conclusions: Medical care of patients with AIDS has higher costs than that of HIV infected patients without AIDS. Thus, the retardation of the progression of the disease would have social, humanitarian and economical benefits. Our costs are similar to those of other countries with a similar level of economic development