Antiretroviral therapy schemes and their cost for the health system in Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus infection is a pandemic with a health, social and economic impact. Antiretroviral therapy is the only effective alternative to treat patients. Supply of such a therapy poses a great economic burden to health systems in low-income countries.

Objective: Describe the antiretroviral therapy schemes formulated and their economic impact on the Colombian health system.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study and secondary source review were conducted. The study sample was 446 adult patients of both sexes with a confirmed diagnosis who attended control sessions in a specialized clinic in the city of Villavicencio, Colombia, in the year 2018. The variables analyzed were demographic characteristics, laboratory results, antiretroviral therapy formulated and cost of each scheme.

Results: The population studied was mostly male, with a mean age of 35.8 years. 56% of the patients were under appropriate virological control. Fifteen different antiretroviral therapy schemes were found. The economic cost of each scheme ranged between 74 dollars / month and 467 dollars / month.

Conclusions: The antiretroviral therapy formulation complies with the recommendations contained in the Colombian guide. However, it does not achieve optimal virological control and poses a high economic cost to the Colombian health care system.