Economic impact on direct healthcare costs of missing opportunities for diagnosing HIV within healthcare settings

Background: The economic consequences of a missed opportunity for HIV testing at an earlier stage of infection within a healthcare setting are poorly described.

Methods: For all newly diagnosed HIV patients followed at the Southern Alberta HIV/AIDS Clinic (SAC), Calgary, Canada, between 1 April 2011 and 1 April 2016, all clinical encounters occurring < 3 years prior to diagnosis within the region were obtained. The direct costs of HIV care after diagnosis to 31 March 2019 were determined from a payers' perspective and reported as mean cost per patient per month (PPPM) in 2019 Canadian dollars (CDN$). Patients with no encounters for 3 years prior to diagnosis were compared with patients with encounters, with special attention to patients with HIV clinical indicator conditions (HCICs).

Results: Of 388 patients, 60% had one or more prior encounter without HIV testing; 14% had been treated for an HCIC. Females, older patients and heterosexuals were more likely to have prior encounters. At diagnosis, patients with previous encounters presented with lower CD4 counts and higher rates of AIDS. The mean PPPM costs for patients with any prior encounter or for an HCIC-based encounter were 16% and 33% higher, respectively, than for patients with no prior encounters. While mean PPPM costs for antiretroviral drugs and outpatient visits were slightly higher, in-patient costs were 10 times higher for people with HIV who had a previous HCIC encounter vs. those with no encounters (CDN$316 vs. $31, respectively).

Conclusions: Any healthcare visit, especially for an HCIC, represents relatively easy opportunities for HIV testing. Not testing can result in poorer health and higher costs. Targeted clinical testing and novel interventions to correct overlooked testing opportunities within healthcare settings may be an easy way to implement cost savings.