One in 10 Virally Suppressed Persons With HIV in The Netherlands Experiences ≥10% Weight Gain After Switching to Tenofovir Alafenamide and/or Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor.

BACKGROUND

We determined the frequency of and factors associated with ≥10% weight gain and its metabolic effects in virally suppressed people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) from the Dutch national AIDS Therapy Evaluation in the Netherlands (ATHENA) cohort switching to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and/or integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI).

METHODS

We identified antiretroviral therapy-experienced but TAF/INSTI-naive PWH who switched to a TAF and/or INSTI-containing regimen while virally suppressed for >12 months. Individuals with comorbidities/comedication associated with weight change were excluded. Analyses were stratified by switch to only TAF, only INSTI, or TAF + INSTI. Factors associated with ≥10% weight gain were assessed using parametric survival models. Changes in glucose, lipids, and blood pressure postswitch were modeled using mixed-effects linear regression and compared between those with and without ≥10% weight gain.

RESULTS

Among 1544 PWH who switched to only TAF, 2629 to only INSTI, and 918 to combined TAF + INSTI, ≥10% weight gain was observed in 8.8%, 10.6%, and 14.4%, respectively. Across these groups, weight gain was more frequent in Western and sub-Saharan African females than Western males. Weight gain was also more frequent in those with weight loss ≥1 kg/year before switching, age <40 years, and those discontinuing efavirenz. In those with ≥10% weight gain, 53.7% remained in the same body mass index (BMI) category, while a BMI change from normal/overweight at baseline to obesity at 24 months postswitch was seen in 13.9%, 11.7%, and 15.2% of those switching to only TAF, only INSTI, and TAF + INSTI, respectively. PWH with ≥10% weight gain showed significantly larger, but small increases in glucose, blood pressure, and lipid levels. Lipid increases were limited to those whose switch included TAF, whereas lipids decreased after switching to only INSTI.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight gain of ≥10% after switch to TAF and/or INSTI was common in virally suppressed PWH, particularly in females and those starting both drugs simultaneously. Consequent changes in metabolic parameters were, however, modest.