BACKGROUND: No randomized comparisons exist between dolutegravir (DTG) and boosted-darunavir (DRV/b) for people initiating treatment with advanced HIV. METHODS: ART-naïve people with HIV (PWH) with CD4 <
200 cells/mm RESULTS: A total of 1,323 advanced ART-naïve PWH were included, 895 starting DTG and 428 DRV/b. The unweighted risks of the composite endpoint by 48 months were 21.1% (95% CI: 18.1
24.1%) for DTG versus 37.9% (95% CI: 32.7
43.2%) for DRV/b (p<
0.001). First-line treatment with DTG showed a lower risk of experiencing the composite endpoint than DRV/b (wHR of DTG vs DRV/b 0.47, 95% CI: 0.35
0.64, p<
0.001). CONCLUSION: Under the stated assumptions, this analysis indicates that in ART-naïve PWH with advanced disease, ART initiation with DTG vs. DRV/b-based regimens leads to a 50% reduction in the risk of AIDS/SNAE/death/VF/discontinuation. This observed difference is partly explained by discontinuation of the anchor drug.