Cost analysis of a mind–body intervention compared to usual hospital-based outpatient visits in HIV-infected individuals: a feasibility study

©2020 Fasterholdt et al., publisher and licensee CybelePress.com. This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract: This study compared the costs of a mind–body intervention with usual care for individuals infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Further, consequences on labour market attachment were explored. The cost analysis was nested in a randomized controlled trial conducted in 2015 at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. A total of 30 patients were randomized to one of two arms. The intervention consisted of a group intervention facilitated by an educated coach. Usual care consisted of standard outpatient visits alone. Total healthcare and patient costs were estimated over a twelve-month period at individual level from a societal perspective. Costs of resource used in primary and secondary health sectors were included as well as patient costs. To explore uncertainty one-way sensitivity analysis was performed. Total costs were found to be on average €14,549 less per patient compared to usual care. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Number of working hours and proportion of persons employed per year in the two groups were similar. The sensitivity analysis showed that the absolute difference in costs observed was due to one control patient with an extremely high use of hospital resources. The absolute difference in costs was similar to the base case when using two-year follow-up. This small feasibility study indicate that it is possible to deliver an extra service for HIV-infected individuals in the form of a mind–body intervention at roughly similar costs compared with standard outpatient visits alone.