Healthcare resource utilization and costs among treatment-naïve people with HIV in state Medicaids: analysis of multi-tablet vs. single-tablet antiretroviral regimen initiators with and without concurrent mental health disorders.

Background: Research is needed to understand the impact of mental health disorders (MHD) on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH).

Objectives: Examine the HCRU and cost burden among treatment-naïve PWH with and without MHD initiating single tablet antiretroviral regimens (STRs) and multi-tablet regimens (MTRs).

Methods: A retrospective database analysis of the US Medicaid population from Anlitiks' All Payor Claims database between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2023 was conducted. Treatment-naïve MTR-initiators vs STR-initiators (the index was the first prescription fill claim date) with ≥ 12-months pre- and post-index continuous enrollment and no pre-index HIV-2 diagnosis among PWH/MHD and PWH/no-MHD during 1 January 2017-30 June 2022 were selected. Demographics, clinical characteristics, HCRU and costs between MTR-initiators vs STR-initiators among PWH/MHD and PWH/no-MHD were described using Chi-square tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum or t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, as appropriate. HCRU and costs were examined using multivariable logistic and gamma-log link regression models, controlling for potential confounders.

Results: MTR-initiators (PWH/MHD:  = 7,874, PWH/no-MHD:  = 3,612) vs. STR-initiators (PWH/MHD: 46,024, PWH/no-MHD: 23,452) were significantly younger (PWH/MHD: 43.6 vs. 47.2 years; PWH/no-MHD: 39.2 vs. 43.3 years) and more likely to be female (PWH/MHD: 46.4% vs. 35.7%; PWH/no-MHD: 42.3% vs 29.7%) in both groups (all -values < 0.05). MTR-initiators vs. STR-initiators had significantly higher rates of inpatient (IP) hospitalizations (PWH/MHD: 28.9% vs. 27.1%; PWH/no-MHD:13.9% vs. 11.9%) and emergency department (ED) visits (PWH/MHD: 53.3% vs. 49.2%; PWH/no-MHD: 35.2% vs. 31.8%) among both those with and without MHD (all -values < 0.05). MTR-initiators vs. STR-initiators also had significantly higher adjusted all-cause medical costs (PWH/MHD: $60,228 vs $40,634; PWH/no-MHD: $33,623 vs. $17,996) (all -values < 0.05).

Conclusions: Among PWH/MHD and PWH/no-MHD, MTR-initiators experienced significantly higher HCRU, and 1.5 times greater costs compared to STR-initiators. In both MTR and STR-initiator groups, the PWH/MHD cohort consistently demonstrated a greater HCRU and cost burden than the PWH/no-MHD.