Yi-Hsin Chang1, Wen-Chun Liu2, Sui-Yuan Chang3, Bing-Ru Wu4, Pei-Ying Wu5, Mao-Song Tsai2, Chien-Ching Hung6, Chih-Yin Lew-Ting7. 1. Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Center for Infection Control, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: hcc0401@ntu.edu.tw. 7. Institute of Health Policy and Management, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Little is known about the factors associated with syphilis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Taiwan, where MSM has re-emerged as the leading risk group for HIV transmission. METHODS: From March to October 2011, MSM who regularly attended HIV clinics at a university hospital were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire interview was conducted to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, immunologic and virologic status, sexual partners and patterns of sexual behavior, and use of recreational drugs. RESULTS: During the study period, 310 HIV-infected MSM with a mean age of 35.5 years were enrolled, of which 82.3% (n = 255) were sexually active and 37.4% (n = 116) used recreational drugs in the past 6 months. Syphilis was self-reported in 46.5% (n = 144) of the participants after HIV infection was diagnosed and 37.5% (112/299) had serologic evidence of syphilis within 1 year before enrollment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis limited to those who were receiving cART showed that higher CD4 counts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.34], lower educational achievement (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.05-3.63), serosorting (AOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.04-10.63), and use of recreational drugs (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.26-5.13) were associated with syphilis. CONCLUSION: Improved immune status, lower educational achievement, serosorting, and use of recreational drugs were associated with syphilis among HIV-infected MSM who were receiving cART. These findings suggest that strengthening client-specific counseling is needed to reduce risks for syphilis among HIV-infected MSM in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Little is known about the factors associated with syphilis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infectedmen who have sex with men (MSM) with access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Taiwan, where MSM has re-emerged as the leading risk group for HIV transmission. METHODS: From March to October 2011, MSM who regularly attended HIV clinics at a university hospital were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire interview was conducted to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, immunologic and virologic status, sexual partners and patterns of sexual behavior, and use of recreational drugs. RESULTS: During the study period, 310 HIV-infected MSM with a mean age of 35.5 years were enrolled, of which 82.3% (n = 255) were sexually active and 37.4% (n = 116) used recreational drugs in the past 6 months. Syphilis was self-reported in 46.5% (n = 144) of the participants after HIV infection was diagnosed and 37.5% (112/299) had serologic evidence of syphilis within 1 year before enrollment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis limited to those who were receiving cART showed that higher CD4 counts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.34], lower educational achievement (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.05-3.63), serosorting (AOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.04-10.63), and use of recreational drugs (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.26-5.13) were associated with syphilis. CONCLUSION: Improved immune status, lower educational achievement, serosorting, and use of recreational drugs were associated with syphilis among HIV-infected MSM who were receiving cART. These findings suggest that strengthening client-specific counseling is needed to reduce risks for syphilis among HIV-infected MSM in Taiwan.