Renal Function in Chinese HIV-Positive Individuals following Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy

To identify the prevalence and predictors of abnormal renal function among HIV-positive Chinese patients prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and to evaluate subsequent changes in renal function after ART exposure.

We conducted a nationwide cohort study of subjects who enrolled in the national Chinese ART program from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. We estimated the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of subjects prior to and after initiating ART. Risk factors for abnormal renal function, as defined by eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2, at baseline and follow-up were assessed by logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively.

Among 41,862 subjects, at ART baseline, 3.3% had a baseline eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 and 24.2% had eGFR = 60-90 ml/min/1.73m2. Adjusted baseline risk factors for baseline eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 were older age (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.52-5.67), female (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.47-1.93), hemoglobin <120g/L (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.47-1.93), blood glucose >6.1 mmol/L (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.25-1.72), and hepatitis C co-infection (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.73). Among subjects with baseline eGFR >90 ml/min/1.73m2, the incidence of the eGFR falling to <60 ml/min/1.73m2 was 0.92/100 person-years after a median of 15.0 months of ART. Being on a tenofovir with lopinavir/ritonavir regimen (Adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.96-4.66) and having an unsuppressed viral load (AHR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.80-4.03) were independent predictors for eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 after ART initiation as well as older age, female, and hemoglobin <120 g/L.

A high proportion of HIV-positive subjects in China presented with abnormal renal function prior to ART initiation. But the incidence of the eGFR decrease after ART was low. Patient renal function should be regularly monitored by eGFR before initiating and during ART.