In-patient care for symptomatic, HIV-infected persons: a longitudinal study of hospitalizations, in-patient drug use, and related costs.

Patterns in the costs of hospital in-patient care and in-patient drug treatment of 121 symptomatic, HIV-infected patients are described for a university hospital between 1987 and 1991. Trend analyses have been performed on quarterly and yearly data using parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques. During the 5-year study period the demand for hospital beds almost quadrupled despite a constant number of admissions per person-year and a 40% decrease in the average length of stay. The demand for beds was highest in the autumn and winter months. The impact of female and/or heterosexual subgroups on the yearly utilization of resources increased and reasons for hospitalization became more diverse; there were fewer hospitalizations for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia infection. Antimicrobial drug treatment accounted for the increased drug treatment costs. The implications for AIDS-treating specialists, hospital managers, and scenario analysts are discussed.