Citation Jordan R, Gold L, Hyde C, Cummins C. Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in patients naive to prior treatment: a systematic review of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Birmingham: West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration (WMHTAC). DPHE Report No. 37. 2000 Authors' objectives <p>The aim of this study is to produce a systematic review with a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive patients who have not had prior treatment, and also provide an evaluation of the available economic analyses. Patients naïve to prior therapy are selected in order to avoid potential dilution of the effects in patients with established drug-resistance.</p> Authors' conclusions All the disease outcomes (CD4 count, viral load and disease progression/death) are consistent with triple therapy > double therapy > monotherapy > no treatment (data for quadruple therapy was too limited to conclude this). Commissioners should be reassured that treatment policy has been justified so far, but should be aware that more evidence is needed to examine the effectiveness of individual drug combinations and additions before endorsing larger numbers of drugs. Cost-effectiveness studies will always be difficult to interpret if short term data are used. High quality longer term cohort studies will be required to evaluate life-time costs and effects. Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by CRD MeSH Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Costs and Cost Analysis; HIVs Language Published English Country of organisation England English summary An English language summary is available. Address for correspondence West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT Tel: +44 121 414 6852; Fax: +44 121 414 7878 Email: l.a.briscoe@bham.ac.uk AccessionNumber 32011000106 Date abstract record published 26/01/2011 |