Differences in Syphilis Incidence Using a Laboratory Algorithm in People With and Without HIV in an 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study

Marissa M. Maier; Ina Gylys-Colwell; Elliott Lowy; Joleen Borgerding; Puja Van Epps; Michael Ohl; Ronald G. Hauser; Maggie Chartier; Lauren Beste

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofab030

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Differences in Syphilis Incidence Using a Laboratory Algorithm in People With and Without HIV in an 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study

Journal article

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Differences in Syphilis Incidence Using a Laboratory Algorithm in People With and Without HIV in an 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study

Marissa M. Maier, Ina Gylys-Colwell, Elliott Lowy, Joleen Borgerding, Puja Van Epps, Michael Ohl, Ronald G. Hauser, Maggie Chartier and Lauren Beste

Open forum infectious diseases, Vol.8(2), ofab030

02/01/2021

DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab030

PMCID: PMC7880267

PMID: 33604407

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Abstract

Background To measure the incidence of syphilis diagnoses among people with HIV vs those without HIV in a national multiyear retrospective cohort. Methods Treponemal and nontreponemal tests, HIV status, and demographic data were identified among all individuals receiving Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2019. Syphilis testing rates and incident syphilis diagnoses as defined by a laboratory algorithm were stratified by HIV status. Results Syphilis was diagnosed in 1.2% (n = 2283) of 194 322 tested individuals in VHA care in 2019. Among individuals with HIV tested for syphilis, 6.1% met criteria for syphilis compared with 0.7% without HIV. Syphilis incidence in 2019 was 35/100 000, a 17% increase from 2009 (30/100 000). In 2019, syphilis incidence was 3381 per 100 000 persons among individuals with HIV and 19 per 100 000 in those without HIV. Conclusions Using a laboratory-based diagnostic algorithm, a 178-fold difference in syphilis incidence was observed between individuals with and without HIV in 2019. US syphilis incidence data that incorporate HIV status are needed. Interventions to monitor and prevent sexually transmitted infections should address the role of HIV status.

Immunology

Infectious Diseases

Microbiology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Differences in Syphilis Incidence Using a Laboratory Algorithm in People With and Without HIV in an 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study
Creators: Marissa M. Maier - VA Portland Health Care System
Ina Gylys-Colwell - VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Elliott Lowy - VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Joleen Borgerding - VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Puja Van Epps - Case Western Reserve University
Michael Ohl - University of Iowa
Ronald G. Hauser - Yale University
Maggie Chartier - Office of Patient Care Services
Lauren Beste - University of Washington
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Open forum infectious diseases, Vol.8(2), ofab030
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab030
PMID: 33604407
PMCID: PMC7880267
NLM abbreviation: Open Forum Infect Dis
ISSN: 2328-8957
eISSN: 2328-8957
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Number of pages: 7
Grant note: Veterans Health Administration (HIV, Hepatitis, and Related Conditions Programs office in the Office of Specialty Care Services)
Language: English
Date published: 02/01/2021
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984359886902771

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