Uptake and 24-month Outcomes of Dolutegravir- Versus Lopinavir-based Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy for People With HIV in South Africa: A Retrospective Cohort Study and Emulated Target Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aligning with the World Health Organization, South Africa has replaced ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) with dolutegravir (DTG) in second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) after treatment failure with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/lamivudine or emtricitabine (XTC)/efavirenz (EFV). Initial guidance included special considerations for DTG use among women.

Methods

We analyzed routine deidentified data of adults switched from TDF/XTC/EFV to second-line AZT/XTC/LPV/r, AZT/XTC/DTG, or TDF/XTC/DTG between December 2019 and December 2023 at 108 healthcare facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Among people switched before July 2021, we emulated a target trial comparing 24-month death or loss to follow-up (LTFU), and viremia (>50 copies/mL). We conducted inten

SUBMITTER: Brown JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12448401 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature