Advanced Search

Preplanned Studies: Trends in Incidence of HIV and Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men — Tianjin Municipality, China, 2013–2022

View author affiliations
  • Summary

    What is already known about this topic?

    Given the common modes of transmission, outbreaks of both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis are primarily observed in men who have sex with men (MSM). However, minimal research has been conducted to concurrently evaluate the rates and trends of HIV and syphilis incidence within this community in China.

    What is added by this report?

    This manuscript presents the incidence rates and associated factors of HIV and syphilis in MSM in Tianjin based on data derived from a decade-long cohort study. Intriguingly, it depicts a decreasing trend in HIV incidence juxtaposed with an increasing incidence of syphilis among this population in Tianjin.

    What are the implications for public health practice?

    The interconnected risk factors for HIV and syphilis pose significant hindrances to disease control. Our study underscores the urgent need for improved intervention strategies specifically aimed at MSM to mitigate the propagation of both infections.

  • loading...
  • Funding: Supported by the AIDS Prevention Technical Guidance and Capacity Building Project (No. 102393220020050000012), the Tianjin Medical Key Discipline Project (No. TJYXZDXK-050A), Technical guidance and capacity building for AIDS prevention and control (No. 131031105000160001) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 72374153)
  • [1] Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. The path that endsAIDS: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2023.2023. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2023-unaids-global-aids-update_en.pdf. [2023-10-7].
    [2] Stannah J, Soni N, Lam JKS, Giguère K, Mitchell KM, Kronfli N, et al. Trends in HIV testing, the treatment cascade, and HIV incidence among men who have sex with men in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet HIV 2023;10(8):e528 − 42. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00111-XCrossRef
    [3] Zheng SF. The growing threat of China's HIV epidemic. Lancet Public Health 2018;3(7):e311. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30098-7CrossRef
    [4] Karanfilian KM, Almohssen AA, Kapila R, Schwartz RA. Malignant syphilis: a new and revised definition. Int J Dermatol 2023;62(3):369 − 75. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.16444CrossRef
    [5] Guo Y, Zhao FN, Hou JY, Bai JY. Analyse the timeliness of initiationanti-retroviral treatment among newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in Tianjin, 2016-2020. Chin J AIDS STD 2022;28(1):78 − 81. https://doi.org/10.13419/j.cnki.aids.2022.01.17CrossRef
    [6] Guo Y, Yang J, Bai JY, Liu ZQ, Dong XY, Li L, et al. Analysis on psychoactive substances use in men who have sex with men in Tianjin. Chin J Epidemiol 2022;43(5):686 − 91. https://doi.org/10.3760/CMA.J.CN112338-20211104-00851CrossRef
    [7] Hui S, Chen FF, Li Y, Cui Y, Zhang JH, Zhang L, et al. Factors associated with newly HIV infection and transmitted drug resistance among men who have sex with men in Harbin, P. R. China. Front Public Health 2022;10:860171. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.860171CrossRef
    [8] Grulich AE, Guy R, Amin J, Jin FY, Selvey C, Holden J, et al. Population-level effectiveness of rapid, targeted, high-coverage roll-out of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in men who have sex with men: the EPIC-NSW prospective cohort study. Lancet HIV 2018;5(11):e629 − 37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(18)30215-7CrossRef
    [9] You XY, Gilmour S, Cao WN, Lau JTF, Hao C, Gu J, et al. HIV incidence and sexual behavioral correlates among 4578 men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chengdu, China: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 2021;21(1):802. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10835-4CrossRef
    [10] Aung ET, Fairley CK, Ong JJ, Chen MY, Phillips TR, Tran J, et al. Incidence and risk factors for early syphilis among men who have sex with men in Australia, 2013-2019: a retrospective cohort study. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023;10(2):ofad017. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofad017CrossRef
    [11] Ghanem KG, Ram S, Rice PA. The modern epidemic of syphilis. N Engl J Med 2020;382(9):845 − 54. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1901593CrossRef
    [12] Mangione CM, Barry MJ, Nicholson WK, Cabana M, Chelmow D, Coker TR, et al. Screening for syphilis infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults: US preventive services task force reaffirmation recommendation statement. JAMA 2022;328(12):1243 − 9. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.15322CrossRef
    [13] Xu BY, Aliya A, He Q, Li YF, Ni MJ. HIV infection risk of men who have sex with men with different sex roles. Prev Med 2023;35(12):1018 − 23. https://doi.org/10.19485/j.cnki.issn2096-5087.2023.12.002CrossRef
  • FIGURE 1.  Process of the retrospective cohort study among MSM in Tianjin Municipality, China.

    Abbreviation: HIV=human immunodeficiency virus; MSM=men who have sex with men.

    FIGURE 2.  Trends in the incidence of HIV and syphilis among MSM in Tianjin Municipality, China, from 2013 to 2022.

    Abbreviation: HIV=human immunodeficiency virus; MSM=men who have sex with men.

    TABLE 1.  Factors associated with HIV incidence among MSM in Tianjin Municipality, China.

    VariablesHIV
    conversions
    PYsIncidence rate
    (/100 PYs)
    Univariate analysisMultivariate analysis
    HR (95% CI)P valueHR (95% CI)P value
    Age group (years)
    <208260.43.11.0001.000
    20–29893,468.02.60.835 (0.405, 1.722)0.6250.808 (0.381, 1.712)0.577
    30–39301,669.11.80.587 (0.269, 1.281)0.1810.491 (0.211, 1.146)0.491
    ≥40241,088.52.20.726 (0.326, 1.616)0.4330.566 (0.229, 1.398)0.566
    Household registration
    Tianjin682,376.82.91.0001.000
    Other city834,109.22.00.712 (0.517, 0.982)0.0380.750 (0.530, 1.060)0.104
    Ethnicity
    Ethnic minorities365.14.61.0001.000
    Han1486,420.92.30.509 (0.161, 1.604)0.2490.649 (0.204, 2.067)0.464
    Marital Status
    Unmarried1114,600.62.41.0001.000
    Married/cohabiting311,602.71.90.809 (0.543, 1.206)0.2990.974 (0.583, 1.627)0.920
    Divorced/widowed9282.73.21.325 (0.671, 2.614)0.4171.378 (0.647, 2.933)0.405
    Education
    Junior high school and below20831.22.41.0001.000
    High school and above1315,654.82.30.958 (0.598, 1.535)0.8590.995 (0.602, 1.646)0.985
    Sexual orientation
    Homosexual1315,216.62.51.0001.000
    Bisexual/heterosexual201,269.41.60.633 (0.395, 1.015)0.0580.597 (0.358, 0.996)0.048
    Having unprotected anal sex in the last six months
    No482,686.11.81.0001.000
    Yes1033,799.92.71.518 (1.078, 2.139)0.0171.436 (1.014, 2.033)0.041
    Number of anal intercourse in the last one week
    ≤11315,683.82.31.0001.000
    ≥220802.22.51.074 (0.671, 1.720)0.7661.064 (0.661, 1.713)0.798
    Having commercial homosexual intercourse in the last six months
    No1466,124.52.41.0001.000
    Yes5361.51.40.585 (0.240, 1.426)0.2380.777 (0.314, 1.924)0.586
    Age of first homosexual intercourse (years)
    ≤19613,012.02.01.0001.000
    ≥20903,474.02.61.282 (0.926, 1.775)0.1341.467 (1.023, 2.104)0.037
    Main places to find homosexual partners
    Internet dating software1175,041.72.31.0001.000
    Other locations341,444.32.41.019 (0.694, 1.495)0.9231.221 (0.817, 1.824)0.330
    Psychoactive substances use
    No623,198.01.91.0001.000
    Yes893,288.02.71.410 (1.019, 1.953)0.0381.584 (1.137, 2.207)0.007
    Number of follow-up visits
    ≤2811,475.05.51.0001.000
    ≥3705,011.01.40.218 (0.154, 0.308)0.0000.216 (0.152, 0.308)0.000
    Syphilis infection
    No1295,935.32.21.0001.000
    Yes22550.74.01.828 (1.163, 2.873)0.0091.795 (1.131, 2.849)0.013
    Abbreviation: PYs=person-years; HR=hazard ratio.
    Download: CSV

    TABLE 2.  Factors associated with the incidence of syphilis among MSM in Tianjin, China.

    Variables Syphilis
    conversions
    PYs Incidence rate
    (/100 PYs)
    Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis
    HR (95% CI) P value HR (95% CI) P value
    Age group (years)
    <20 12 202.5 5.9 1.000 1.000
    20–29 134 3,062.7 4.4 0.737 (0.408, 1.330) 0.310 0.716 (0.391, 1.313) 0.280
    30–39 60 1,391.9 4.3 0.733 (0.394, 1.362) 0.326 0.826 (0.424, 1.607) 0.573
    ≥40 54 812.2 6.6 1.121 (0.600, 2.096) 0.721 1.628 (0.810, 3.271) 0.171
    Household registration
    Tianjin 102 2,019.9 5.0 1.000 1.000
    Other city 158 3,449.4 4.6 0.909 (0.709, 1.167) 0.455 0.837 (0.638, 1.098) 0.199
    Ethnicity
    Ethnic minorities 3 54.7 5.5 1.000 1.000
    Han 257 5,414.6 4.7 0.840 (0.268, 2.632) 0.765 0.971 (0.308, 3.058) 0.959
    Marital Status
    Unmarried 189 3,926.8 4.8 1.000 1.000
    Married/cohabiting 65 1,299.6 5.0 1.048 (0.790, 1.390) 0.744 0.867 (0.603, 1.248) 0.443
    Divorced/widowed 6 242.9 2.5 0.522 (0.231, 1.176) 0.117 0.335 (0.142, 0.792) 0.013
    Education
    Junior high school and below 36 660.9 5.4 1.000 1.000
    High school and above 224 4,808.4 4.7 0.855(0.601, 1.217) 0.385 0.770 (0.525, 1.129) 0.181
    Sexual orientation
    Homosexuality 221 4,380.9 5.0 1.000 1.000
    Bisexual/heterosexual 39 1,088.4 3.6 0.722 (0.513, 1.017) 0.062 0.605 (0.459, 0.964) 0.031
    Had unprotected anal sex in the last six months
    No 112 2,282.8 4.9 1.000 1.000
    Yes 148 3,186.5 4.6 0.954 (0.746, 1.219) 0.705 0.952 (0.742, 1.220) 0.697
    Number of anal intercourse in the last 1 week
    ≤1 222 4,755.2 4.7 1.000 1.000
    ≥2 38 714.2 5.3 1.145 (0.811, 1.615) 0.441 1.100 (0.774, 1.562) 0.596
    Having commercial homosexual intercourse in the last six months
    No 222 5,199.6 4.3 1.000 1.000
    Yes 38 269.8 14.1 1.195 (0.709, 2.013) 0.504 1.217 (0.711, 2.083) 0.473
    Age of first homosexual intercourse (years)
    ≤19 126 2,566.6 4.9 1.000 1.000
    ≥20 134 2,902.7 4.6 0.939(0.736, 1.198) 0.612 0.964 (0.735, 1.265) 0.793
    Main places to find homosexual partners
    Internet dating software 209 4,218.9 5.0 1.000 1.000
    Other locations 51 1,250.5 4.1 0.831 (0.611, 1.130) 0.238 0.787 (0.568, 1.089) 0.148
    Psychoactive substances use
    No 108 2,728.7 4.0 1.000 1.000
    Yes 152 2,740.7 5.5 1.414 (1.104, 1.811) 0.006 1.504 (1.169, 1.934) 0.001
    Abbreviation: PYs=person-years; HR=hazard ratio.
    Download: CSV

Citation:

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
  • 1. 

    沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

  1. 本站搜索
  2. 百度学术搜索
  3. 万方数据库搜索
  4. CNKI搜索
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents

Article Metrics

Article views(2498) PDF downloads(35) Cited by()

Share

Related

Trends in Incidence of HIV and Syphilis Among Men Who Have Sex with Men — Tianjin Municipality, China, 2013–2022

View author affiliations

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Given the common modes of transmission, outbreaks of both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis are primarily observed in men who have sex with men (MSM). However, minimal research has been conducted to concurrently evaluate the rates and trends of HIV and syphilis incidence within this community in China.

What is added by this report?

This manuscript presents the incidence rates and associated factors of HIV and syphilis in MSM in Tianjin based on data derived from a decade-long cohort study. Intriguingly, it depicts a decreasing trend in HIV incidence juxtaposed with an increasing incidence of syphilis among this population in Tianjin.

What are the implications for public health practice?

The interconnected risk factors for HIV and syphilis pose significant hindrances to disease control. Our study underscores the urgent need for improved intervention strategies specifically aimed at MSM to mitigate the propagation of both infections.

  • 1. STD & AIDS Control and Prevention Section, Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China
  • 2. National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
  • 3. STD & AIDS Control and Prevention department, Tianjin Hongqiao District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China
  • 4. Tianjin Shenlan Public Health Counseling Service Center, Tianjin, China
  • 5. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China
  • Corresponding authors:

    Houlin Tang, tanghl@chinaaids.cn

    Maohe Yu, fish820225@sina.com

  • Funding: Supported by the AIDS Prevention Technical Guidance and Capacity Building Project (No. 102393220020050000012), the Tianjin Medical Key Discipline Project (No. TJYXZDXK-050A), Technical guidance and capacity building for AIDS prevention and control (No. 131031105000160001) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 72374153)
  • Online Date: July 05 2024
    Issue Date: July 05 2024
    doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2024.121
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to pose a significant public health threat, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2022 (1), the global tally of new HIV infections approximated at 1.3 million, with HIV incidence among MSM reportedly nearly five per 100 person-years (PYs), 27 to 150 times higher than that in the general adult male population (2). Alarmingly, China has observed an uptick in HIV instances among MSM (3). Concurrently, syphilis resurfaced as a major public health concern, predominantly affecting the MSM community (4). Despite this pronounced escalation, insight into the extent and trajectory of HIV and syphilis incidence among MSM in China remains inadequate. In Tianjin Municipality, for instance, case reports suggest MSM constitute approximately 80% of HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) instances (5), mirrored by a high prevalence of syphilis within the demographic (6). Comprehending the dynamics behind these incidence rates is critical in monitoring and appraising public health approaches. To that end, a cohort study involving 2,110 participants for HIV and 1,927 for syphilis was conducted among the MSM population in Tianjin from 2013 to 2022. The study revealed a declining trend in HIV incidence of an average rate of 2.3 per 100 PYs over the study period, contrasted by a rising trend in syphilis incidence of an average rate of 4.8 per 100 PYs. These findings, via multivariate analysis, pinpointed several factors linked to HIV and syphilis incidence, emphasizing the imperative to amplify intervention initiatives for MSM to mitigate HIV and syphilis transmission.

    From April 2013 to March 2022, an open cohort study was conducted focusing on MSM based in Tianjin. Inclusion criteria for participants were: biological male , being at least 16 years old, engaging in oral or anal intercourse with males in the past year, voluntary completion of questionnaires and registration with fingerprints, submission to blood sampling for HIV and syphilis testing, a negative or unknown HIV/syphilis status at the initial survey, and having at least two HIV/syphilis test records during the study period. Exclusion criteria included inability to participate independently in the survey, and pre-existing HIV/syphilis infection prior to the initial survey. Between April 2013 and March 2022, MSM were recruited via online and offline methods through community-based organizations, creating an open cohort. All participants were required to provide baseline data relating to demographics, behavioral factors, and HIV/syphilis status, with information collected through structured questionnaires administered by trained interviewers. Participants were then followed up every six months for serological testing for HIV and syphilis. HIV testing used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Wantai Biotech Inc., China and Lizhu Biotech Inc., Beijing, China) and any positive results were confirmed by western blotting (HIV Blot 2.2; MP Diagnostics, Singapore). Syphilis testing also used an ELISA test (Yingke-xinchuang Biotech Inc., China), but positive results were confirmed using a toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST; Wantai Biotech Inc., China). Syphilis was diagnosed only when both ELISA and TRUST tests were positive (7). After excluding participants who tested HIV positive at the baseline (n=123), or lacked follow-up records (n=557), 2,110 MSM were included in the final data analysis to estimate HIV incidence (Figure 1). Of those 2,110 participants, 183 tested positive for syphilis at baseline; hence, the remaining 1,927 MSM who tested syphilis-negative were included in the final data analysis for syphilis incidence estimation. Follow-up PYs were calculated from the date of the baseline survey to the last HIV/syphilis test, date of death, loss to follow-up, or March 31, 2022 — whichever occurred first. Incidence rates for HIV and syphilis were then calculated based on seroconversions and observed PYs.

    Figure 1. 

    Process of the retrospective cohort study among MSM in Tianjin Municipality, China.

    Abbreviation: HIV=human immunodeficiency virus; MSM=men who have sex with men.

    Categorical variables were delineated in terms of frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables were displayed as “Median (lower quartile, upper quartile)”. To estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for HIV and syphilis incidences, Cox proportional hazards (PH) models were utilized. All statistical analyses, including two-sided tests with a significance level of P<0.05, were carried out using SPSS software (version 24.0; Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). The study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of the Center for STD and AIDS Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (X130419285).

    The median age for the 2,110 participating MSM was determined to be 27.5 years, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 24.0 to 34.0 years. Demographic analysis revealed that 60.5% of the participants were local residents, 74.7% were single, and 88.9% had acquired at least a high school level education. In terms of sexual orientation, 84.5% identified themselves as homosexual.

    During the observation period, there were 151 reported HIV seroconversions within 6,486.0 PYs, establishing an HIV incidence rate of 2.3 per 100 PYs (95% CI: 2.0, 2.7). To minimize the effects of random errors and facilitate a comprehensive assessment of incidence trends, the 2-year incidence rate was utilized. HIV incidence rates varied over time, reaching a peak of 5.2 (95% CI: 3.2, 7.2) in 2013–2014, before dropping to 4.2 (95% CI: 3.0, 5.4) in 2015–2016, 2.4 (95% CI: 1.7, 3.1) in 2017–2018, 2.2 (95% CI: 1.5, 2.9) in 2019–2020, and 1.9 (95% CI: 0.9, 2.9) per 100 PYs in 2021–2022 (Figure 2). The PH assumption for the Cox models was validated by examining the interaction terms between the variables included in the model and the log of follow-up time, with no violations observed. Therefore, Cox PH models were employed to estimate the associations between various factors and HIV/syphilis incidence. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that MSM identifying as heterosexual or bisexual had a lower risk of HIV incidence than those identifying as homosexual [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=0.597, 95% CI: 0.358, 0.996]. MSM who engaged in unprotected anal sex during the previous six months had a 43.6% increased risk of HIV incidence (aHR=1.436, 95% CI: 1.014, 2.033) compared to those who did not. Furthermore, MSM who experienced their first homosexual intercourse at 20 years old or later were found to be at a 46.7% higher risk of HIV incidence (aHR=1.467, 95% CI: 1.023, 2.104) compared to those who first engaged in homosexual intercourse at a younger age. The risk of HIV incidence was also higher among MSM who used psychoactive substances within the last six months (aHR=1.584, 95% CI: 1.137, 2.207). Conversely, regular follow-up visits (more than thrice) seemed to serve as a protective factor against HIV incidence (aHR=0.216, 95% CI: 0.152, 0.308) in comparison to those with two or fewer follow-ups during the study period. Syphilis infection proved to be a significant risk factor for HIV incidence among MSM (aHR=1.795, 95% CI: 1.131, 2.849) (Table 1).

    Figure 2. 

    Trends in the incidence of HIV and syphilis among MSM in Tianjin Municipality, China, from 2013 to 2022.

    Abbreviation: HIV=human immunodeficiency virus; MSM=men who have sex with men.
    VariablesHIV
    conversions
    PYsIncidence rate
    (/100 PYs)
    Univariate analysisMultivariate analysis
    HR (95% CI)P valueHR (95% CI)P value
    Age group (years)
    <208260.43.11.0001.000
    20–29893,468.02.60.835 (0.405, 1.722)0.6250.808 (0.381, 1.712)0.577
    30–39301,669.11.80.587 (0.269, 1.281)0.1810.491 (0.211, 1.146)0.491
    ≥40241,088.52.20.726 (0.326, 1.616)0.4330.566 (0.229, 1.398)0.566
    Household registration
    Tianjin682,376.82.91.0001.000
    Other city834,109.22.00.712 (0.517, 0.982)0.0380.750 (0.530, 1.060)0.104
    Ethnicity
    Ethnic minorities365.14.61.0001.000
    Han1486,420.92.30.509 (0.161, 1.604)0.2490.649 (0.204, 2.067)0.464
    Marital Status
    Unmarried1114,600.62.41.0001.000
    Married/cohabiting311,602.71.90.809 (0.543, 1.206)0.2990.974 (0.583, 1.627)0.920
    Divorced/widowed9282.73.21.325 (0.671, 2.614)0.4171.378 (0.647, 2.933)0.405
    Education
    Junior high school and below20831.22.41.0001.000
    High school and above1315,654.82.30.958 (0.598, 1.535)0.8590.995 (0.602, 1.646)0.985
    Sexual orientation
    Homosexual1315,216.62.51.0001.000
    Bisexual/heterosexual201,269.41.60.633 (0.395, 1.015)0.0580.597 (0.358, 0.996)0.048
    Having unprotected anal sex in the last six months
    No482,686.11.81.0001.000
    Yes1033,799.92.71.518 (1.078, 2.139)0.0171.436 (1.014, 2.033)0.041
    Number of anal intercourse in the last one week
    ≤11315,683.82.31.0001.000
    ≥220802.22.51.074 (0.671, 1.720)0.7661.064 (0.661, 1.713)0.798
    Having commercial homosexual intercourse in the last six months
    No1466,124.52.41.0001.000
    Yes5361.51.40.585 (0.240, 1.426)0.2380.777 (0.314, 1.924)0.586
    Age of first homosexual intercourse (years)
    ≤19613,012.02.01.0001.000
    ≥20903,474.02.61.282 (0.926, 1.775)0.1341.467 (1.023, 2.104)0.037
    Main places to find homosexual partners
    Internet dating software1175,041.72.31.0001.000
    Other locations341,444.32.41.019 (0.694, 1.495)0.9231.221 (0.817, 1.824)0.330
    Psychoactive substances use
    No623,198.01.91.0001.000
    Yes893,288.02.71.410 (1.019, 1.953)0.0381.584 (1.137, 2.207)0.007
    Number of follow-up visits
    ≤2811,475.05.51.0001.000
    ≥3705,011.01.40.218 (0.154, 0.308)0.0000.216 (0.152, 0.308)0.000
    Syphilis infection
    No1295,935.32.21.0001.000
    Yes22550.74.01.828 (1.163, 2.873)0.0091.795 (1.131, 2.849)0.013
    Abbreviation: PYs=person-years; HR=hazard ratio.

    Table 1.  Factors associated with HIV incidence among MSM in Tianjin Municipality, China.

    In the study, 1,927 participants contributed to syphilis incidence evaluation by providing 5,469.3 PYs of follow-up data. Throughout this period, 260 new syphilis cases were identified, which yielded an incidence rate of 4.8 per 100 PYs (95% CI: 4.2, 5.3). A pattern of escalating syphilis incidence rates was witnessed over the years, increasing from 3.6 (95% CI: 1.9, 5.3) in 2013–2014, 2.7 (95% CI: 1.9, 3.6) in 2015–2016, 4.8 (95% CI: 3.8, 5.8) in 2017–2018, 5.9 (95% CI: 4.8, 7.1) in 2019–2020, and reaching 7.2 (95% CI: 4.5, 9.8) per 100 PYs in 2021–2022 (Figure 2). Results from multivariate analysis indicated certain patterns of syphilis risk among MSM. Divorced or widowed MSM had a lower risk compared to those who were unmarried (aHR=0.335, 95% CI: 0.142, 0.792). Furthermore, MSM identifying as heterosexual or bisexual exhibited lower risks compared to those identifying as homosexual (aHR=0.605, 95% CI: 0.459, 0.964). A rather alarming observation was that MSM who reported using psychoactive substances in the last six months had a 50.4% higher syphilis incidence risk compared to those who reported no use of such substances (aHR=1.504, 95% CI: 1.169, 1.934) (Table 2).

    Variables Syphilis
    conversions
    PYs Incidence rate
    (/100 PYs)
    Univariate analysis Multivariate analysis
    HR (95% CI) P value HR (95% CI) P value
    Age group (years)
    <20 12 202.5 5.9 1.000 1.000
    20–29 134 3,062.7 4.4 0.737 (0.408, 1.330) 0.310 0.716 (0.391, 1.313) 0.280
    30–39 60 1,391.9 4.3 0.733 (0.394, 1.362) 0.326 0.826 (0.424, 1.607) 0.573
    ≥40 54 812.2 6.6 1.121 (0.600, 2.096) 0.721 1.628 (0.810, 3.271) 0.171
    Household registration
    Tianjin 102 2,019.9 5.0 1.000 1.000
    Other city 158 3,449.4 4.6 0.909 (0.709, 1.167) 0.455 0.837 (0.638, 1.098) 0.199
    Ethnicity
    Ethnic minorities 3 54.7 5.5 1.000 1.000
    Han 257 5,414.6 4.7 0.840 (0.268, 2.632) 0.765 0.971 (0.308, 3.058) 0.959
    Marital Status
    Unmarried 189 3,926.8 4.8 1.000 1.000
    Married/cohabiting 65 1,299.6 5.0 1.048 (0.790, 1.390) 0.744 0.867 (0.603, 1.248) 0.443
    Divorced/widowed 6 242.9 2.5 0.522 (0.231, 1.176) 0.117 0.335 (0.142, 0.792) 0.013
    Education
    Junior high school and below 36 660.9 5.4 1.000 1.000
    High school and above 224 4,808.4 4.7 0.855(0.601, 1.217) 0.385 0.770 (0.525, 1.129) 0.181
    Sexual orientation
    Homosexuality 221 4,380.9 5.0 1.000 1.000
    Bisexual/heterosexual 39 1,088.4 3.6 0.722 (0.513, 1.017) 0.062 0.605 (0.459, 0.964) 0.031
    Had unprotected anal sex in the last six months
    No 112 2,282.8 4.9 1.000 1.000
    Yes 148 3,186.5 4.6 0.954 (0.746, 1.219) 0.705 0.952 (0.742, 1.220) 0.697
    Number of anal intercourse in the last 1 week
    ≤1 222 4,755.2 4.7 1.000 1.000
    ≥2 38 714.2 5.3 1.145 (0.811, 1.615) 0.441 1.100 (0.774, 1.562) 0.596
    Having commercial homosexual intercourse in the last six months
    No 222 5,199.6 4.3 1.000 1.000
    Yes 38 269.8 14.1 1.195 (0.709, 2.013) 0.504 1.217 (0.711, 2.083) 0.473
    Age of first homosexual intercourse (years)
    ≤19 126 2,566.6 4.9 1.000 1.000
    ≥20 134 2,902.7 4.6 0.939(0.736, 1.198) 0.612 0.964 (0.735, 1.265) 0.793
    Main places to find homosexual partners
    Internet dating software 209 4,218.9 5.0 1.000 1.000
    Other locations 51 1,250.5 4.1 0.831 (0.611, 1.130) 0.238 0.787 (0.568, 1.089) 0.148
    Psychoactive substances use
    No 108 2,728.7 4.0 1.000 1.000
    Yes 152 2,740.7 5.5 1.414 (1.104, 1.811) 0.006 1.504 (1.169, 1.934) 0.001
    Abbreviation: PYs=person-years; HR=hazard ratio.

    Table 2.  Factors associated with the incidence of syphilis among MSM in Tianjin, China.

    • Our research presents the results of the inaugural long-term cohort study investigating the incidence rate of HIV/syphilis and contributing factors within Tianjin’s population. We documented an HIV incidence rate of 2.3 per 100 PYs among MSM in Tianjin. This rate surpasses the one reported in Australia (8) yet remains lower than the incidence rate identified in Chengdu city(9). Interestingly, the syphilis incidence rate among Tianjin’s MSM population (4.75 per 100 PYs) exceeded the rates noted in Australian studies (10).

      Our study observed a declining incidence of HIV among MSM in Tianjin, contrasting with an upward trend in syphilis incidence. This divergence may be attributed to the comprehensive preventative interventions for MSM that have been in place over recent years. First, mRNA surveillance for acute HIV infection among MSM has been conducted since 2015. Additionally, pooled nucleic acid testing has been employed since 2015 for MSM who initially tested HIV-negative, with the goal of identifying early-stage infections and promptly starting treatment. Measures such as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), increased HIV testing coverage through self-testing, volunteer promotion, and advocating for herpes testing before homosexual intercourse have all been introduced. Given that instances of HIV/AIDS transmission via homosexual contact frequently commence antiretroviral treatment punctually (5), these efforts have fostered a reduction in HIV incidence. Contrastingly, while the Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U) theory has spurred increased emphasis on HIV testing and treatment, it has also prompted a surge in syphilis incidence, attributed to the persistence of unregulated unsafe sexual behaviors. Notably, syphilis is known to heighten the risk of HIV infection (11), and our findings suggest that MSM infected with syphilis are more likely to seroconvert to HIV. Thus, the higher incidence of syphilis signals an elevated future potential for HIV transmission. Moreover, there is a substantial overlap of HIV and syphilis infection among Asian MSM (12). This underlines the need to prioritize screening for and treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially syphilis, as a key strategy for controlling the HIV epidemic. Standardized treatment for those testing positive for syphilis is of paramount importance in preventing its spread and carries broader implications for HIV control. The routine detection of syphilis among HIV/AIDS cases is therefore critical for containing its spread. Consequently, it is vital to integrate HIV and syphilis prevention efforts, and enhance the diagnostic and preventative aspects of syphilis treatment to ensure standardized care.

      The use of psychoactive substances, prevalent in 43.5% of MSM in Tianjin (6), has been identified as a risk factor contributing to the incidence rates of both HIV and syphilis. It is critical to pay particular attention to MSM who utilize internet dating applications, as the consumption of psychoactive substances is more widespread among this group (6). Interestingly, participants identifying as bisexual or heterosexual exhibited lower incidence rates of HIV and syphilis compared to those identifying as homosexual. This variation may be due to a reduced frequency of sexual interactions with other men and differences in sexual roles compared to their homosexual peers. Existing research indicates that homosexual participants are more likely to assume the passive role during anal sex than their bisexual or heterosexual counterparts (13), a role that carries an increased susceptibility to contracting HIV/syphilis. Moreover, individuals from this group are more likely to be married to women, and societal and familial pressure may discourage engagement in risky behaviors.

      Our findings also revealed that increased age at the time of first homosexual intercourse was linked to a higher risk of HIV, underscoring the significance of implementing targeted education initiatives for older MSM demographics. Regular health check-ups seemed to diminish the risk of HIV, likely due to the heightened healthcare awareness among these individuals.

      This study is subject to some limitations. First, tracking the HIV and syphilis status of participants who didn’t join the cohort was not possible. Second, our restriction to a cohort of MSM with HIV incidence negated further observation post-HIV conversion, potentially introducing bias into the syphilis incidence data. Yet, despite these constraints, the longevity of the study — spanning a decade — and its exhaustive data set on MSM, offer essential insights into strategies for HIV and syphilis prevention in China’s major cities.

      In summary, our research points to a steady decline in the incidence of HIV, juxtaposed with a surge in syphilis cases among MSM in Tianjin from 2013 to 2022. We noted sexual orientation and the use of psychoactive substances as shared risk factors for both HIV and syphilis. Our study highlights the difficulties in curbing HIV transmission, largely attributed to the high prevalence of syphilis. This study is of significant value to public health practices intending to prevent HIV and syphilis, underlining the urgency for more robust intervention measures amongst MSM to limit the spread of both HIV and syphilis.

    • No conflicts of interest.

    • The study participants, data collectors, and the staff from Tianjin Shenlan CBO for their contributions towards quality control.

Reference (13)

Citation:

Catalog

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return