Cost analysis of pharmaceutical care provided to HIV-infected patients: an ambispective controlled study

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and economic impact of pharmaceutical care of HIV-infected patients. Patients were allocated to either intervention or control group. The control group was followed according to standard care while the intervention group was also followed by a pharmacist at each physician appointment for one year. Effectiveness outcomes included CD4+ count, viral load, absence of co-infections and optimal immune response, and economic outcomes. Intervention and control groups included 51 patients each. The authors observed significant decreases in total pharmacotherapy problems during the study. At six months, the intervention group contained higher percentages of patients without co-infections and of patients with CD4+ >500 cells/mm^sup 3^. None of the differences between intervention and control group considering clinical outcomes and costs were statistically significant. However, at one year, the intervention group showed higher percentage of better clinical outcomes and generated lower spending (not to procedures).