OBJECTIVES: To describe patterns of resource consumption and costs associated with the management of metabolic abnormalities (MA) among newly diagnosed HIV+ patients compared to a matched cohort of non-infected individuals. METHODS: This was a one-year retrospective database study. Administrative claims from a managed care organization located in the Western US were used. Patients 18+ years with a single inpatient or 2 outpatient medical claims with HIV-related ICD-9 codes (042-044, 079.53, 795.71, V08) or at least 2 pharmacy claims for antiretroviral therapy for >30 days between July 1999 and June 2000 were eligible. Patients with claims for HIV or MA prior to index date were excluded. In addition, a matched control cohort was identified. Patients were matched 3:1 based on age, gender and state. Outcomes were MA-related prescriptions, ER visits, physician office visits, hospitalizations, and associated costs. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square or t-test as appropriate. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred sixty-eight controls and 456 HIV+ patients were eligible. Mean age was 40 years, and 86% were males. The HIV+ patients had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0.46 vs. 0.05 (p=0.0001). More HIV+ patients had a physician visit (12.5% vs. 10.7%; p=NS), hospitalization (2.6% vs. 0.9%;p=0.004), and ER visit (2.2% vs. 0.1%; p<0.0001) for MA. Odds ratio for MA-related hospitalizations and ER visits in the HIV vs. control cohorts were 3.1 (95% CI: 1.4-6.8) and 15.3 (95% CI: 3.3-70.2), respectively. Population level mean medical (physician visits, ER visits, hospitalizations) and pharmacy costs for MA in the HIV+ vs. control cohorts were $473.93 vs. $128.60 (p=0.03); $42.80 vs. $13.69 (p=0.0005), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The one-year resource consumption and costs related to MA were significantly higher among the HIV+ cohort. The occurrence of MA in HIV+ patients was associated with a higher burden than in control patients with the greatest impact on MA-related hospitalization and ER visits.