Our research team at Newlands Clinic compared the trends of weight gain among patients receiving different regimens with special interest on the third drug which could be one of three – efavirenz (EFV), dolutegravir (DTG) or ritonavir boosted atazanavir (ATV/r). They were interested in finding out if the currently reported weight gain arising from DTG is also evident in the cohort of Newlands Clinic. Our results showed that over 24 months, patients receiving DTG had 2 – 4-fold weight gain compared to EFV and ATV/r. The effect of DTG on weight gain seemed more apparent among female patients and was clearer among patients who were overweight/obese or of normal weight at the time of starting/switching to the regimen.
Poster: DTG and weight gain