October - December 2018

Economic Impact of HIV in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Era - Reflections Looking Forward

Abstract

The main data on HIV in high-income countries from the standpoint of health economics are updated and�discussed. Specifically, issues surrounding the economic impact of HIV are addressed for health care�and occupational perspectives. We review the main epidemiological data on the prevalence of disease�and foreseeable changes in patterns within the coming years. Recent research on health care costs of HIV/�AIDS and the occupational situation of HIV+ people are discussed. In high-income countries, there is an�incipient change in trends that indicate that an increasing percentage of the intermediate-age HIV+ population�will age prematurely, presenting more frequently comorbidities and becoming more exposed to�frailty situations. Accordingly, health-care systems should have to plan their resources to accommodate�new determinants of healthcare costs in the HIV+ population. On the occupational side, the decreased life�expectancy of HIV+ persons, coupled with more severe health issues, on average may prompt early�retirement�of this population from the labor market.�

Keywords:
HIV. Health care cost. Labor force participation rate. Economic impact. Comorbidity. Aging