Moreover, there were no differences between the two groups regarding the course of HIV infection, covering aspects such as time since HIV diagnosis (p = 0.092), clinical stage (p = 0.051); CD4+ T-cell count (p = 0.845), CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p = 0.313), and HIV-1 VL at ART initiation (p = 0.102); time since HIV diagnosis to ART initiation (p = 0.155); time at HIV treatment (p = 0.573); ever exposure to a rilpivirine-containing regimen (p = 0.287); and preexisting comorbidities (including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, obesity, dyslipidemia, and CVD). Here, CD8A is linked to metabolic syndrome.