Patient Satisfaction with Once-Daily Single-Tablet Darunavir, Cobicistat, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Alafenamide (DRV/c/FTC/TAF): A Real-World Study of Patient Self-Reported Outcomes in HIV-1–Diagnosed Adults

PURPOSE: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection remains a concern. As patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy is essential to avoid drug resistance and virologic failure, greater understanding of patient treatment satisfaction may help facilitate ongoing medication use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted through the Carenity US HIV platform (04/07/2020–05/26/2020). Eligible respondents were adults with HIV-1 registered on the platform who were receiving darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (DRV/c/FTC/TAF) and living in the United States. This descriptive study assessed patient satisfaction with DRV/c/FTC/TAF and HIV-related symptoms at baseline and follow-up (4–6 weeks). Two HIV patient-reported outcomes tools were completed at both time points: the HIV Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (HIVTSQs; range: 0–60 points [higher score indicates greater satisfaction]) and the HIV Symptom Distress Module (HIV-SDM; range: 0–80 points [lower score indicates lower distress]). RESULTS: Of 100 respondents from across the United States who completed the survey at baseline, mean age was 39 years, 69 were male, 48 were Caucasian, 76 were HIV treatment-experienced, and 24 were HIV treatment-naïve. Of baseline respondents, 46 completed the follow-up survey. In the overall population, treatment discontinuation between baseline and follow-up was low (6.5%: 3/46 respondents at follow-up). Mean total HIVTSQs score at baseline was 50.2 with the highest proportion of respondents satisfied regarding their willingness to continue DRV/c/FTC/TAF (79%) and to recommend DRV/c/FTC/TAF to other patients (76%). Among all baseline respondents, mean total HIV-SDM score was 23.5. On average, respondents experienced 10.7 overall symptoms (grades 1–4) and 3.8 bothersome symptoms (grades 3–4). Both satisfaction rate and occurrence of symptoms with DRV/c/FTC/TAF were stable between baseline and follow-up. CONCLUSION: DRV/c/FTC/TAF therapy was associated with high patient satisfaction and patients taking DRV/c/FTC/TAF had a moderate HIV symptom burden. Patient experience and health-related quality of life during HIV therapy are important metrics that may help healthcare providers increase patient adherence.