RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 B/F/TAF forgiveness to non-adherence
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 418
OP 422
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2024-056202
VO 100
IS 7
A1 Maggiolo, Franco
A1 Taramasso, Lucia
A1 Valenti, Daniela
A1 Blanchi, Sabrina
A1 Centorrino, Federica
A1 Comi, Laura
A1 Di Biagio, Antonio
YR 2024
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/100/7/418.abstract
AB Background ART forgiveness is the ability of a regimen to maintain HIV-RNA suppression despite a documented imperfect adherence. We explored forgiveness of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF). Methods In this retrospective cohort study pharmacy drug refills were used to calculate the proportion of days covered (PDC) as a proxy of adherence. Forgiveness was defined as the possibility to achieve a selected HIV-RNA threshold by a given level of imperfect adherence. A logistic model was applied to verify the impact of baseline variables and adherence on the virologic outcomes. Results We enrolled 420 adults. From them, 787 one-year time-periods were derived for a median cohort follow-up of 873 person/years. Most of them were males (73.1%); the most frequent risk factor for HIV infection was heterosexual contacts (49.5% of cases), followed by 22.5% MSM and 22.5% intravenous drug users. The median age of enrolled persons with HIV was 51 years (IQR 45-57 years); the median duration of HIV infection was 7.9 years (IQR 4-18 years) and the median nadir of CD4 cells was 277 cells/mcL (IQR 100-513 cells/mcL). Adherence showed a median of 0.97 (IQR 0.91-1.00), consequently only 17 time-periods (2.2%) in 17 different individuals (4.0%) showed HIV-RNA blood levels above 200 copies/ml. A PDC of 0.75 was sufficient to obtain in > 90% of cases the virologic outcome for both 200 copies/ml or 50 copies/ml. An adherence value of 0.85 obtained a positive response in virtually all subjects either for a cut-off of 50 or 200 copies/ml. Conclusions Long-term success of ART needs effective, well tolerated, friendly regimens. Adherence remains a crucial determinant of long-term success, but suboptimal adherence levels are relatively common. Given this, an elevated forgiveness plays a relevant role to further improve long-term outcomes and should be considered a fundamental characteristic of any antiretroviral regimen. B/F/TAF has been proved to have all of these characteristics. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.