Switching from Tenofovir Disoproxil to Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk and Lipid Profile in People Living with HIV, an Observational Study

In the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLHIV) still face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) is superior to its precursor tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) regarding bone and renal toxicity, but there are concerns about a negative effect on lipid profile. This observational, single-center study investigates the effects on lipid profile and cardiovascular (CVD) risk of the switch from TDF to TAF, in combination with emtricitabine/elvitegravir/cobicistat (FTC/EVG/c), in patients with no exposure to other antiretrovirals. Routine laboratory measurements, somatometric characteristics, and smoking status were analyzed for the assessment of CVD risk changes, using D:A:D and ATP III scores pre- and postswitch. A total of 62 patients with a mean age of 32.9 years were included in this study. Sixty-one patients (98.4%) were men, 38 (61.3%) late presenters, and 39 (62.9%) active smokers. A year after the switch, there was a significant increase in total cholesterol (178 ± 38 to 194 ± 40 mg/dL