Patient-Reported Outcomes After Switching to a 2-Drug Regimen of Fixed-Dose Combination Dolutegravir/Lamivudine: 48-Week Results from the SALSA Study

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) facilitate communication between patients and providers, enhancing patient-centered care. We report PROs for virologically suppressed people living with HIV-1 who switched to dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) or continued their 3- or 4-drug current antiretroviral regimen (CAR) in the phase 3 SALSA study. Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (status version; HIVTSQs) and HIV Symptom Distress Module (HIV-SDM) at Weeks 4, 24, and 48. A post hoc analysis assessed change in HIVTSQs and HIV-SDM by age (≥ 50 and < 50 years). Higher HIVTSQs scores represent greater treatment satisfaction (range, 0-60); lower HIV-SDM scores indicate less symptom bother (range, 0-80). Participants in the DTG/3TC (n = 246) and CAR (n = 247) groups reported comparable baseline HIVTSQs total scores (mean [SD], 55.2 [6.5] and 55.8 [5.5], respectively). Beginning at Week 4, mean HIVTSQs scores in the DTG/3TC group further increased vs. CAR and were sustained through Week 48. Baseline mean (SD) HIV-SDM symptom bother scores were comparable between the DTG/3TC (9.0 [9.9]) and CAR (7.9 [9.3]) groups. Small improvements in HIV-SDM scores favoring DTG/3TC were observed at Weeks 4 and 24 and sustained through Week 48 (though not significant between groups). Participants aged ≥ 50 and < 50 years who switched to DTG/3TC reported higher satisfaction and less symptom distress vs. CAR; these results were generally comparable between age groups. Participants who switched to DTG/3TC reported rapid and sustained improvements in treatment satisfaction compared with those who continued CAR, reinforcing the benefits of DTG/3TC beyond virologic suppression (NCT04021290; registration date, 7/11/2019).