Efficacy and safety of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate for adult patients with human immunodeficiency virus-1 in China: a retrospective real-world cohort study

Background This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and tolerance of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (BIC/FTC/TAF) use for 24 weeks in anti-retroviral therapy (ART)-naive patients in China.Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included ART-naive patients who received BIC/FTC/TAF from July 2021 to April 2022. The proportion of patients with HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL at the end point of 24 weeks (virological suppression rate) was the primary outcome, and the changes in CD4 cell count, CD4/CD8 ratio, weight, blood lipid, and safety were secondary outcomes.Results A total of 80 ART-naive patients were enrolled. The virological suppression rate was 86.3% at 24 weeks. The median CD4 cell count increased from 212 cells/mu L (interquartile range [IQR]: 90.3-398.3) at baseline to 348 cells/mu L (IQR: 219.8-541.0) at 24 weeks. The median CD4/CD8 ratio increased from 0.25 (IQR: 0.13-0.37) at baseline to 0.40 (IQR: 0.26-0.66) at 24 weeks. During the follow-up of 80 ART-naive patients using BIC/FTC/TAF, 16 participants had adverse events; however, these events did not lead to drug withdrawal.Conclusion This real-world cohort study showed that BIC/FTC/TAF could achieve good immunological and virological responses in ART-naive patients. In addition, this study also shows good safety.