Epidemiology of gonorrhoea: systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions, World Health Organization European Region, 1949 to 2021

Abstract

Background Epidemiology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection remains inadequately understood. Aim We aimed to characterise NG epidemiology in Europe. Methods We used Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines to systematically review, report, synthesise and analyse NG prevalence data from 1949 to 30 September 2021. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled prevalence. Meta-regression analyses investigated associations and sources of heterogeneity. Results The 844 included publications yielded 1,573 prevalence measures. Pooled prevalence of current urogenital infection was 1.0% (95% CI: 0.7–1.2%) among general populations, 3.2% (95% CI: 1.8–4.8%) among female sex workers, 4.9% (95% CI: 4.2–5.6%) among sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees and 12.1% (95% CI: 8.8–15.8%) among symptomatic men. Among men who have sex with men, pooled prevalence was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.5–1.4%), 5.6% (95% CI: 3.6–8.1%), and 3.8% (95% CI: 2.5–5.4%), respectively, for current urogenital, anorectal or oropharyngeal infection. Current urogenital, anorectal or oropharyngeal infection was 1.45-fold (95% CI: 1.19–1.77%), 2.75-fold (95% CI: 1.89–4.02%) and 2.64-fold (95% CI: 1.77–3.93%) higher among men than women. Current urogenital infection declined 0.97-fold (95% CI: 0.96–0.98%) yearly, but anorectal and oropharyngeal infection increased (1.02-fold; 95% CI: 1.01–1.04% and 1.02-fold; 95% CI: 1.00–1.04%), respectively. Conclusions Neisseria gonorrhoeae epidemiology in Europe has distinct and contrasting epidemiologies for vaginal sex transmission in heterosexual sex networks vs anal and oral sex transmission in MSM sexual networks. Increased transmission may facilitate drug-resistant strain emergence. Europe is far from achieving the World Health Organization target of 90% incidence reduction by 2030.