Virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients on TDF-containing regimens significantly benefit from switching to TAF-containing regimens: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: To investigate whether TDF-containing regimens significantly benefited efficacy, safety, and tolerability in TAF-containing regimens in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Trial Registry were systematically searched for eligible studies. We extracted and evaluated the pooled data from available randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Results: Eight eligible RCTs were included. In the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, patients who switched to TAF-containing regimens had significantly better viral suppression than those continuing TDF-containing regimens at weeks 48 and 96 (RR, 1.02; 95CI, 1.00-1.03; p<0.05), but no significant difference in the per-protocol (PP) analysis (RR, 1.00; 95CI, 0.99-1.01; p>0.05). Compared with those receiving the TDF-containing regimens, virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients on the TAF-containing regimens had significant increases in CD4 cell counts (SMD, 0.12; 95CI, 0.08 to 0.17; p<0.05), renal and bone parameters at the hip (RR, 2.86; 95CI, 2.24-3.64; p<0.05) and the spine (RR, 2.43; 95 CI, 2.03-2.90; p<0.05) between weeks 48 and 96.

Conclusions: Virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients on TDF-containing regimens significantly benefit from switching to TAF-containing regimens, resulting in better viral suppression, better immune reconstruction, and less bone and renal problems.