Abstract
In China, approximately 13% of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) are receiving lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based regimens. These PLWH typically have a history of either treatment failure or intolerance to first-line efavirenz-based regimens. Given the considerable pill burden and adverse effects associated with LPV/r, treatment optimization is important for this population. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of switching from LPV/r-based regimens to the single-tablet regimen of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF). Virological suppression rates (HIV-RNA < 40 copies/mL) were primarily compared between the 48-week periods before and after switching to BIC/FTC/TAF. CD4 counts and metabolic data were also assessed. A total of 461 PLWH were recruited between January 2021 and December 2023, with 92.2% being male, a median age of 38 years, and a median antiretroviral therapy duration of 8 years. Prior to initiating LPV/r, 23.0% (106/461) had documented virological failure. During LPV/r treatment, 18.9% (20/106) of these individuals experienced viral rebound. Among all participants, the overall virological suppression rates significantly increased from 94.6% (pre-switch) to 98.6% (post-switch) (P < 0.001). Notably, among participants with prior virological failure, suppression rates improved significantly from 81.1% to 97.2% (P < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was observed in those without such history (from 98.6% to 99.2%, P = 0.764). The median triglyceride level decreased from 2.4 mmol/L to 1.8 mmol/L (P < 0.001), while no difference in CD4 counts was observed. These findings demonstrate that BIC/FTC/TAF is an effective and metabolically favorable treatment option for PLWH switching from LPV/r based regimens, regardless of whether they have a prior history of virological failure.