SUMMARY: DO-REAL is an observational cohort study assessing the large-scale roll-out of the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir (DTG) in Lesotho.~BACKGROUND: DTG is a second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitor with low side-effects and superior treatment outcomes for people living with HIV-1 when compared to other antiretroviral drugs currently in use in low-income countries. Though some cases have been described, HIV-1 resistance to DTG is rare in clinical settings when DTG is used as part of a combination therapy. The use of DTG in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens was recommended by the World Health Organisation in 2018 and was adopted by the Ministry of Health in Lesotho in 2019. DTG now forms part of the recommended first-line therapy for many ART-naïve patients in Lesotho. In addition, many patients on a non-DTG-based first-line ART regimen will be transitioned to a DTG-based regimen.~OBJECTIVES: Despite the positive health outcomes observed in patients receiving DTG-based ART in high-income countries and in clinical trial settings, there is little data on virologic outcomes of patients on DTG during large-scale implementation in low- and lower middle-income countries. Concerns remain regarding the risk that some patients transitioning to a DTG-based regimen will be placed on a functional monotherapy. Furthermore, there are concerns as to psychological side-effects and observed weight gain. This observational study aims to assess the virologic outcomes (viral suppression rates as well as potential drug resistance) as well as side-effects of people living with HIV-1 and transitioning to a DTG-based ART regimen in Lesotho.~DO-REAL has two major objectives:~To assess virologic outcomes after the programmatic shift to DTG-based regimens.~To assess psychological and somatic wellbeing in patients before and after the programmatic shift to DTG-based regimens.~METHODS: DO-REAL is a cohort study enrolling people living with HIV who are initiating or are eligible (according to national guidelines and the local implementation thereof) to initiate a DTG-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen. The study will take place at three hospitals in two districts (Butha-Buthe, Mokhotlong) in Lesotho, and aims to enrol over 2000 participants. Viral loads will be measured on the day of initiating a DTG-based regimen (or on the day this was offered), as well as four, 12 and 24 months thereafter. In a post-hoc analysis, samples will be tested for drug resistance in samples where the viral load permits (approx. ≥100 c/mL). A subset of participants will complete screenings for depression, general health, and HIV-related symptoms.
DO-REAL is an observational cohort study assessing the large-scale roll-out of the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir (DTG) in Lesotho.~DTG has been shown to have low side-effects and superior treatment outcomes for people living with HIV-1 when compared to other antiretroviral drugs currently in use in low-income countries. The use of DTG in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens was recommended by the World Health Organisation in 2018 and adopted by the Ministry of Health in Lesotho in 2019. While DTG-based ART regimens have led to promising health outcomes in high-income and clinical trial settings, certain concerns remain regarding the risk of ART-experienced patients transitioning to a DTG-based ART regimen being placed on a functional monotherapy (increasing the otherwise low risk of viral resistance to DTG) as well as side-effects including psychological symptoms and weight gain.~Thus, the DO-REAL study intends to address these concerns and provide data on health outcomes of HIV patients on DTG in a real-life high-prevalence setting.