Risk of chronic kidney disease in people living with HIV by tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) use and baseline D:A:D chronic kidney disease risk score

The incidence and dynamic risk factors of chronic kidney disease among people with HIV

OBJECTIVES

We investigate the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among people with HIV (PWH) and the dynamic risk factors associated with CKD incidence.

DESIGN

A population-based cohort study of PWH in South Carolina.

METHODS

Adults (age ≥18 years) PWH diagnosed between 2006 and 2019 who were CKD-free at baseline were included. The associations of HIV-related risk factors and conventional risk factors with the incidence of CKD were investigated during the overall study period and by different follow-up periods (i.e. 5, 10, and 15 years) by multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 9514 PWH, the incidence of CKD was 12.39 per 1000 person-years. The overall model indicated that conventional risk factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, were significantly associated with a higher risk of developing CKD. HIV-related characteristics, such as high percentage of days with viral suppression, recent CD4 + cell count, and percentage of retention in care, were associated with a lower risk of CKD compared with their counterparts. In the subgroup analysis, the results were similar for the 5-year and 6-10 years follow-up groups. Among patients who did not develop CKD by the 10th year, the risk factors for developing CKD within 11-15 years were dyslipidemia, diabetes, low recent CD4 + cell count, and short duration of retention in care while other predictors vanished.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes, CD4 + cell count, and retention in care were persistently associated with CKD despite of follow-up duration. Closely monitoring diabetes and improving CD4 + cell count and retention in care are important to lower the risk of CKD in PWH.

Tenofovir-Induced Renal Dysfunction Among HIV-Infected Patients: A Systematic Review

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is an antiretroviral drug widely used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. Negative effects of tenofovir include impaired kidney function, especially with long-term use. In studies conducted among HIV-positive individuals, we found evidence of extensive kidney damage associated with TDF use. Despite the therapeutic importance of this consequence, its continued use in ART regimens was not contraindicated. The therapeutic and long-term effects of TDF are a major concern. However, in countries or settings where resources are limited and renal function monitoring cannot be ensured, screening methods to detect ART-related renal failure are still supported by data. Therefore, it is safe to re-evaluate the use of TDF-based ART. However, adherence to guidelines may be hampered by insufficient laboratory testing in low- and middle-income countries. More research is also needed among people under 18 years of age and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Assessing Heterogeneity of Treatment Effect in Real-World Data

Increasing availability of real-world data (RWD) generated from patient care enables the generation of evidence to inform clinical decisions for subpopulations of patients and perhaps even individuals. There is growing opportunity to identify important heterogeneity of treatment effects (HTE) in these subgroups. Thus, HTE is relevant to all with interest in patients' responses to interventions, including regulators who must make decisions about products when signals of harms arise postapproval and payers who make coverage decisions based on expected net benefit to their beneficiaries. Prior work discussed HTE in randomized studies. Here, we address methodological considerations when investigating HTE in observational studies. We propose 4 primary goals of HTE analyses and the corresponding approaches in the context of RWD: to confirm subgroup effects, to describe the magnitude of HTE, to discover clinically important subgroups, and to predict individual effects. We discuss other possible goals including exploring prognostic score- and propensity score-based treatment effects, and testing the transportability of trial results to populations different from trial participants. Finally, we outline methodological needs for enhancing real-world HTE analysis.

A Step Closer to the "Fourth 90": A Practical Narrative Review of Diagnosis and Management of Nutritional Issues of People Living with HIV

The quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH) has remarkably increased thanks to the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy. Still, PLWH are exposed to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and liver disease. Hence, the purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about diagnosis and nutritional management with specific indication of macro and micronutrients intake for the main comorbidities of PLWH. In fact, a prompt diagnosis and management of lifestyle behaviors are fundamental steps to reach the “fourth 90”. To achieve an early diagnosis of these comorbidities, clinicians have at their disposal algorithms such as the Framingham Score to assess cardiovascular risk; transient elastography and liver biopsy to detect NAFLD and NASH; and markers such as the oral glucose tolerance test and GFR to identify glucose impairment and renal failure, respectively. Furthermore, maintenance of ideal body weight is the goal for reducing cardiovascular risk and to improve diabetes, steatosis and fibrosis; while Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets are the dietetic approaches proposed for cardioprotective effects and for glycemic control, respectively. Conversely, diet management of chronic kidney disease requires different nutritional assessment, especially regarding protein intake, according to disease stage and eventually concomitant diabetes.

Renal adverse drug reactions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in people living with HIV (PLWH) and is related to a multitude of factors. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the most recent evidence of renal adverse effects of antiretroviral drugs, predictors of CKD risk and areas for future research.

RECENT FINDINGS

Advancing age, cardiometabolic risk factors and adverse effects of antiretroviral drugs contribute to the higher prevalence of CKD in PLWH. Genetic factors and baseline clinical CKD risk are strongly correlated to risk of incident CKD, although it is unclear to what extent gene polymorphisms explain renal adverse effects related to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Switching from TDF to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) in people with baseline renal dysfunction improves renal parameters; however, the long-term safety and benefit of TAF in individuals at low risk of CKD is an area of ongoing research.

SUMMARY

Several factors contribute to estimated glomerular function decline and CKD in PLWH. Clinical risk scores for CKD may be useful to inform selection of ART in an ageing population. In people with baseline renal dysfunction, potentially nephrotoxic antiretroviral drugs should be avoided.