Changing Proportions of HIV-1 Subtypes and Transmitted Drug Resistance Among Newly Diagnosed HIV/AIDS Individuals - China, 2015 and 2018

China CDC Wkly. 2021 Dec 31;3(53):1133-1138. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2021.251.

Abstract

Introduction: With the expansion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV drug resistance is becoming more and more serious. This study describes the changing prevalence of HIV-1 subtypes and transmitted drug resistance (TDR) among newly diagnosed individuals in China, 2015 and 2018.

Methods: A total of 8,980 individuals in 2015 and 2018 from 31 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) were enrolled in this study. Viral RNAs were amplified and sequenced using an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol. The Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database (HIVdb) was used to predict susceptibility to 12 antiretroviral drugs.

Results: The prevalence of TDR was not significantly increased over time. The prevalence of TDR was 3.8% and 4.4% in 2015 and 2018, respectively (P=0.13). The prevalence of CRF55_01B increased from 2.3% in 2015 to 3.9% in 2018 (P<0.001). The drug resistance prevalence of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) increased from 2.4% in 2015 to 3.3% in 2018 (P<0.01). The prevalence of E138 (P<0.001), H221 (P=0.03), and V179 (P<0.001) mutations increased from 0.30%, 0.09%, and 0.70% in 2015 to 1.10%, 0.30%, and 1.70% in 2018, respectively.

Conclusions: HIV drug resistance affects the effect of antiretroviral treatment, so the monitoring of HIV TDR should be strengthened to control the transmission of HIV drug resistance.

Keywords: HIV-1 Subtypes; HIV/AIDS; Transmitted Drug Resistance.

Grants and funding

The Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2017ZX10201101)