Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37552426›Full record

ArticleInfectious diseases and therapy2023

Comparing Real-World Healthcare Costs Associated with Single-Tablet Regimens for HIV-1: The 2-Drug Regimen Dolutegravir/Lamivudine vs. Standard 3- or 4-Drug Regimens.

Julie Priest, Guillaume Germain, François Laliberté, Mei Sheng Duh, Malena Mahendran, Iman Fakih, Alan Oglesby

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infectious diseases and therapy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Effectiveness and safety of dual therapy with co-packaged dolutegravir and lamivudine compared to triple therapy as switching strategy in clinical practice.Revista espanola de quimioterapia : publicacion oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Quimioterapia · 2025
    Observational
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Julie PriestGlobal Health Outcomes, ViiV Healthcare, 406 Blackwell Street, Suite 300, Durham, NC, 27701, USA. julie.l.priest@viivhealthcare.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7854-6260
Guillaume GermainGroupe d'analyse Ltée, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC, H3B 0G7, Canada.
François LalibertéGroupe d'analyse Ltée, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC, H3B 0G7, Canada.
Mei Sheng DuhAnalysis Group Inc, 111 Huntington Avenue, 14th Floor, Boston, MA, 02199, USA.
Malena MahendranGroupe d'analyse Ltée, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC, H3B 0G7, Canada.
Iman FakihGroupe d'analyse Ltée, 1190 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Tour Deloitte, Suite 1500, Montréal, QC, H3B 0G7, Canada.
Alan OglesbyGlobal Health Outcomes, ViiV Healthcare, 406 Blackwell Street, Suite 300, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) is a 2-drug regimen for HIV-1 treatment with long-term efficacy and good tolerability comparable to 3- or 4-drug regimens. This study evaluated DTG/3TC cost versus other standard single-tablet regimens during its first year of approval.

methodsThis retrospective study analyzed US claims data from adults with HIV-1. Eligibility criteria included ≥ 1 dispensing of DTG/3TC, DTG/abacavir (ABC)/3TC, bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF), elvitegravir (EVG)/cobicistat (COBI)/FTC/TAF, and darunavir (DRV)/COBI/FTC/TAF (index date was first dispensing) and ≥ 6 months of continuous eligibility before index date (baseline period). All-cause and HIV-related healthcare costs were evaluated during the observation period (index date until earliest of end of continuous eligibility or data availability). Adjusted cost differences and adjusted cost ratios were estimated using multivariable regression models controlling for differences in baseline characteristics between cohorts.

resultsOverall, 22,061 individuals with HIV-1 and dispensed treatment with DTG/3TC (n = 590), DTG/ABC/3TC (n = 4355), BIC/FTC/TAF (n = 9068), EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF (n = 7081), or DRV/COBI/FTC/TAF (n = 967) were included. Most claims data were from men (mean age ~ 46 years). Mean unadjusted all-cause total healthcare costs per patient per month were significantly lower for DTG/3TC versus BIC/FTC/TAF and DRV/COBI/FTC/TAF, and mean unadjusted HIV-related healthcare costs per patient per month were significantly lower for DTG/3TC versus DRV/COBI/FTC/TAF. Cost differences were primarily driven by significantly lower pharmacy costs for DTG/3TC versus other regimens (P < 0.001), while medical costs were similar across cohorts. Results were similar among treatment-naive and treatment-experienced individuals. After adjusting for baseline covariates, significant adjusted cost differences were generally consistent with unadjusted findings. Adjusted cost ratios generally favored DTG/3TC for all-cause healthcare and HIV-related costs, with all pharmacy cost ratios favoring DTG/3TC (P < 0.001).

conclusionDolutegravir/lamivudine had the lowest healthcare costs of BIC/FTC/TAF, EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF, and DRV/COBI/FTC/TAF, and the lowest pharmacy costs of all regimens, in unadjusted and adjusted analyses and by treatment experience, supporting the economic benefits of DTG/3TC as an initial or switch regimen for HIV-1.

Indexed as

2-drug regimenDolutegravir/lamivudineHealthcare costsHIV-1Integrase strand transfer inhibitorSingle-tablet regimen

Identifiers

PMID37552426
PMCPMC10505118

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.