THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF HIV IN MEXICO: A LIFETIME COST-OF-ILLNESS ANALYSIS
Author(s)
Luis Fernando Diaz, MSc1, Amilcar Azamar, PhD2, Ruby A. Chirino-Sprung, MD1, Hugo E. Santana-Santana, Bachelor3, Gibran Sinta Cortes, Bachelor3, Victor E. Martinez, MSc3, Herman Soto, MSc3;
1Gilead Sciences Mexico, S de RL de CV, Mexico City, Mexico, 2Gilead Sciences Inc, FC, CA, USA, 3HS Estudios Farmacoeconomicos SA de CV, Mexico City, Mexico
1Gilead Sciences Mexico, S de RL de CV, Mexico City, Mexico, 2Gilead Sciences Inc, FC, CA, USA, 3HS Estudios Farmacoeconomicos SA de CV, Mexico City, Mexico
OBJECTIVES: HIV is a significant public health challenge in Mexico, with around 340,000 people living with HIV (PLWH) and nearly 18,000 new diagnoses each year. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART), the complete economic impact of HIV in Mexico has not been thoroughly documented. This study aims to estimate both the direct and indirect lifetime and annual per-person HIV costs in Mexico.
METHODS: A cost-of-illness analysis was conducted from two viewpoints. The payer perspective included direct medical expenses: ART procurement and administration, HIV care stratified by CD4 count, and management of AIDS-related complications. The societal perspective expanded on this by including indirect costs such as productivity losses, years of life lost due to premature mortality, and informal caregiving burdens. Lifetime costs were estimated using average age at diagnosis and life expectancy for PLWH. All data came from public and open-access sources. The primary outcomes were average annual and lifetime per-patient costs in 2024 USD, broken down by cost category and perspective.
RESULTS: From the payer perspective, the direct lifetime cost per PLWH was $112,306, with an annual cost of $2,552, assuming a 44-year post-diagnosis life expectancy. ART was the largest expense (58% of direct costs), followed by ongoing care (28%) and complication management (14%). Indirect costs from the societal perspective added $251,510 per lifetime ($5,716 annually), making up 69% of the overall economic burden. Productivity losses contributed 82% of indirect costs, with premature mortality accounting for the majority. The combined lifetime economic burden per PLWH was $363,816.
CONCLUSIONS: The substantial lifetime and annual costs of HIV in Mexico highlight the need for targeted policies and efficient allocation of resources. Indirect costs account for roughly 70% of the overall burden, underscoring the importance of early detection, ART expansion, and preventive strategies to lessen both transmission and economic impact, while promoting health equity.
METHODS: A cost-of-illness analysis was conducted from two viewpoints. The payer perspective included direct medical expenses: ART procurement and administration, HIV care stratified by CD4 count, and management of AIDS-related complications. The societal perspective expanded on this by including indirect costs such as productivity losses, years of life lost due to premature mortality, and informal caregiving burdens. Lifetime costs were estimated using average age at diagnosis and life expectancy for PLWH. All data came from public and open-access sources. The primary outcomes were average annual and lifetime per-patient costs in 2024 USD, broken down by cost category and perspective.
RESULTS: From the payer perspective, the direct lifetime cost per PLWH was $112,306, with an annual cost of $2,552, assuming a 44-year post-diagnosis life expectancy. ART was the largest expense (58% of direct costs), followed by ongoing care (28%) and complication management (14%). Indirect costs from the societal perspective added $251,510 per lifetime ($5,716 annually), making up 69% of the overall economic burden. Productivity losses contributed 82% of indirect costs, with premature mortality accounting for the majority. The combined lifetime economic burden per PLWH was $363,816.
CONCLUSIONS: The substantial lifetime and annual costs of HIV in Mexico highlight the need for targeted policies and efficient allocation of resources. Indirect costs account for roughly 70% of the overall burden, underscoring the importance of early detection, ART expansion, and preventive strategies to lessen both transmission and economic impact, while promoting health equity.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE282
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health