Comparative Safety and Changes in Immunologic and Virologic Parameters of Dolutegravir versus Efavirenz-Based Antiretroviral Therapies Among HIV Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: In combination with other two antiretroviral drugs, an efavirenz (EFV) or dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen is the treatment of choice for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study aimed to determine the safety and changes in immunologic and virologic parameters of DTG compared with EFV-based ART as first-line HIV treatment among HIV patients. METHODS: A retrospective hospital-based cohort study was carried out from September 1, 2019 to August 30, 2020 at HIV clinics of three selected hospitals in North-West–East Ethiopia, Amhara Region. All HIV patients ≥3 years old, who had been on either DTG or EFV-based combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART), and had detectable viral load (VL) were included. Descriptive and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used. RESULTS: Overall, 990 HIV patients were included in the analysis (DTG n=694, EFV n=296). A VL of <50 copies/mL was observed in 69% of patients in the DTG group and 66% in the EFV group (crude hazard ratio [CHR] =1.28, 95% CI: 1.08–1.51; p=0.004). Out of the total, 289 (42%) of the patients in the DTG group reported adverse drug events (ADEs) compared with 147 (50%) in the EFV group (p=0.020). Younger age, opportunistic infections (OIs), bed-ridden condition, no prophylaxis for OIs, low baseline cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count, high baseline VL, poor adherence, and ADEs were predictors of poor survival, and younger age, OIs, low baseline CD4, DTG-based initial regimen, poor adherence with cART, naïve treatment history, and student job type were predictors of poor safety outcomes. CONCLUSION: The DTG-based regimen demonstrates an improved viral suppression and CD4 cell recovery, and better safety profile compared with the EFV-based regimen for the treatment of HIV-infected patients. A baseline CD4(+) T-cell count <200 cells/mm(3), OIs, and poor adherence with therapy were factors associated with poor survival and safety outcomes. HIV patients with these risk factors should be treated and monitored regularly.