Prevalence of Active Syphilis Infection and Risk Factors among HIV-Positive MSM in Zhejiang, China in 2015: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of active syphilis infection and explore the risk factors for active syphilis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who had sex with men (MSM) in Zhejiang Province, 2015. Design: Data on HIV-positive MSM living in Zhejiang Province were obtained from the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention (NCAIDS) reporting system and the Zhejiang provincial AIDS/STD surveillance system between June and December 2015. The information included risky behavior, years with diagnosed HIV, and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). SPSS 19.0 was used for the data analysis. Results: The analysis included 3616 MSM. Of these, 11.3% (407/3616) had active syphilis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that HAART was significantly associated with an increased risk of active syphilis infection (odds ratio (OR) = 1.760, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.187–2.611). Compared with participants diagnosed with HIV for <2 years, patients diagnosed with HIV for >5 years had a higher risk of active syphilis infection (OR = 1.707, 95% CI 1.167–2.495). Age and number of sex partners were also independent risk factors for active syphilis infection. Conclusions: The incidence of active syphilis infection is high among HIV-positive MSM in Zhejiang Province; age, number of sex partners, years with diagnosed HIV, and receiving HAART were risk factors. Patients who are elderly, have lived with HIV for a longer period, have more sex partners, and receive HAART should be the focus of interventions to promote changes in behavior and decrease syphilis infection.