Cost-effectiveness of dolutegravir vs. efavirenz-based combined antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-naive patients in a Nigerian treatment centre

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) based antiretroviral therapy (ART) has largely replaced Efavirenz (EFV) as the preferred first-line regimen in treatment of adults with HIV. This study was carried out to evaluate comparative cost-effectiveness DTG and EFV-based ART HIV-infected treatment-naïve patients a centre Nigeria.
 Methods: retrospective case-control initiated on vs. regimens from January 2018 December 2019 at APIN/HAVARD clinic Nigeria’s Jos University Teaching Hospital. The current viral load result used determine effectiveness using benchmark ≤200 copies/mL. Sensitivity analysis ensure robustness benchmark. total cost obtained by summing up relevant components. Appropriate descriptive inferential statistics were employed data Statistical Product Services Solutions (SPSS) V.25. incremental ratio compared EFV presented cost/effectiveness.
 Results: Treatment effective 42(51.9%) 58(71.6%) regimen, respectively. cost-effective (ICER) those $10.5076 per effectiveness, which less than 1% Nigerian capita Gross Domestic Product. showed result.
 Conclusion: had higher DTG-based treatment-naive after initiating short term. Compared EFV, is management naïve HIV patients.
 Keywords: Average ratio; cost-effectiveness; Dolutegravir.