Effectiveness and common side effects of Dolutegravir Compared to Efavirenz-Based Regimens of Combined Antiretroviral Therapy in Kitwe, Zambia.xlsx

An unpaired t-test was performed to compare viral load suppression and CD4 count between clients on EFV based regimen and DTG based regimen at 24 weeks, 48 weeks and 96 weeks. This test was also performed when comparing viral load and CD4 count of clients switched from EFV based regimen to DTG based regimen. In addition, to compare viral and CD4 count within treatment groups on the two regimens at different periods, the Friedman’s test was used; followed by a Pairwise comparison using the Dunn Post Hoc Test with the Bonferroni correction. To assess if clients with viral suppression remain virally suppressed after switching from EFV-based regimens to DTG based regimens VL and CD4+ were analysed 24 weeks after the switch to DTG based regimens and then at 48 weeks. Records of clients’ results before the switch to DTG based regimens were compared to records after switching to DTG based regimens and reported as percentages and proportions. To assess adherence and compliance to treatment, dates of the review were noted. Common side effects of naïve clients on both regimens’ data were collected from records of clients on both regimens and were described in proportions and assessed with the chi-square test; Side effects of experienced clients before and after the switch to DTG-based regimens, data was described using proportions and assessed with the chi-square test.Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Graph Pad Prism 7 statistical package. For statistical significance, a p-value less than 0.05 was accepted.