Treatment persistence among treatment-experienced people with HIV switching to integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based antiretroviral regimens.

Aims: Low rates of persistence are associated with poor outcomes in people with HIV (PWH). This retrospective cohort study assessed treatment persistence as measured by time to treatment switch in treatment-experienced (TE) PWH initiating integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens.

Methods: United States prescription claims and medical history data from the IQVIA Longitudinal Access and Adjudication Dataset between January 1, 2018, and August 31, 2023, were analyzed. TE PWH with ≥1 prescription claim for initiation of an INSTI-based antiretroviral regimen during the index period (January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022) were included. Descriptive analyses of demographic and comorbidity variables were performed, stratified by regimen. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate time to subsequent treatment switch in the overall population and among PWH aged ≥50 years, those receiving Medicare, and those with mental health conditions or substance use disorders.

Results: Overall, 29,348 TE PWH were included. The majority of INSTI-based regimen initiations were for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) (61%; n = 17,917), followed by dolutegravir/lamivudine (27.4%; n = 8034) and cabotegravir + rilpivirine (7.4%; n = 2186). A subsequent switch occurred in 3341 (11.4%) PWH. Risk factors for switch included female sex, Medicare/Medicaid coverage, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. B/F/TAF was associated with the fewest subsequent switches (9.2%; n = 1656) and was significantly less likely than any other regimen to lead to a subsequent switch, either in the overall population or in the three at-risk subgroups.

Limitations: No data are available to determine the underlying reasons for initial treatment choice or subsequent treatment switch.

Conclusions: This study provides evidence for greater treatment persistence with B/F/TAF versus other INSTI-based regimens. Unlike prior studies that focused on treatment-naïve individuals, this analysis uniquely evaluates persistence among treatment-experienced PWH initiating newer INSTI-based regimens.