IV drug use, dementia, and nursing home care for PWAs (persons with AIDS)

Despite the usual focus on daily costs, because PWAs have higher costs per day than other SNF residents, LOS and days of care are important cost indices. Data on LOS for 102 admissions and annual days of care for 90 PWAs show average 64-day LOS and 67 days of care. Regression analysis and survival analysis show dementias and IV drug use to mean longer LOS and more days of care. Higher PWA costs must be sustained over longer periods for PWAs with dementias and for IV drug users, who may claim increasing shares of the SNF care provided to PWAs.