Effect of dolutegravir-based regimen on the body mass index of adolescents living with HIV in an African population: a pre-post design

ABSTRACT

Dolutegravir, an integrase strand inhibitor, has been linked to an increase in body mass index among adults. However, little is known about its effect on adolescents. The study assessed the effect of a dolutegravir-based regimen on adolescents’ body weight and emphasized the gender-specific differences in weight gain, if any. This prospective cohort study was conducted among 182 treatment-experienced adolescents living with HIV at a tertiary hospital in Southeast Nigeria. The body mass index measurements were calculated before transitioning to dolutegravir and after six months of being on the dolutegravir regimen. A comparison of the difference in mean body mass index before and after dolutegravir-based therapy was determined using a paired t-test. At the end of the six-month follow-up, there was a significant increase in the respondents’ overall body mass index z-score (t = −10.00, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the body mass index z-score of both genders (male; t = −7.49, p < 0.001, female; t = −6.91, p < 0.001). The dolutegravir-based therapy (β-coefficient = −0.17, t = − 2.09, p < 0.001) and baseline body mass index z-score (β-coefficient = 0.76, t = 15.86, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of body mass index z-score at six months. In adolescents living with HIV, the transition to dolutegravir is associated with increased body weight. Female adolescents tend to gain more weight compared to males. Therefore, there is a need for regular monitoring of body weight for early detection of obesity and prompt intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Dolutegravir
• adolescents
• body mass index
• HIV

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used during the study are available from the corresponding author on request.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

The ethical approval to conduct this research was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu (Reference number: UNTH/HREC/2022/10/488). Written informed assent and consent were obtained respectively from the respondents and their caregivers after they had been duly informed of the purpose of the study and their rights to refuse to participate.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Ifeyinwa L. Ezenwosu

Ifeyinwa L. Ezenwosu is a public health physician in the Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Ezenwosu’s interest lies in the epidemiology of diseases of public health importance.

Justus U. Onu

Justus U. Onu is a mental health physician at the Department of Mental Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra, Nigeria. Onu specializes in the Genetic epidemiology of mental disorders and adolescent mental health

Uchenna V. Chukwuma

Uchenna V. Chukwuma is a senior medical officer at the HIV clinic, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. His area of focus is in HIV.

Chinwe J. Chukwuka

Chinwe J. Chukwuka is a professor of internal medicine at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. She is the principal investigator in the HIV clinic of the institution.