Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) viral load suppression cohort dataset

This study assessed the effectiveness of Dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy among adults living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Maseru, Lesotho. Using a retrospective cohort design, the study analysed records of 397 patients aged 18 years and older who initiated DTG-based treatment between January 2020 and December 2023. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to examine treatment outcomes and associated factors. The results showed very high viral suppression rates of 96% at six months and 97% at twelve months. At six months, higher viral load cases were more common among younger adults aged 25–34 years, while older patients had significantly greater odds of achieving viral suppression. However, by twelve months, no demographic or clinical factors were significantly associated with viral suppression. Overall, the findings demonstrate that DTG-based ART is highly effective in real-world clinical settings in Lesotho, while highlighting the importance of strengthening age- and gender-responsive HIV programmes to sustain equitable treatment outcomes.