Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government
Veterans Benefits and Health Care About VA Find a VA Location

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

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

Maier MM, Gylys-Colwell I, Lowy E, Borgerding J, Van Epps P, Ohl M, Hauser RG, Chartier M, Beste L. Differences in Syphilis Incidence Using a Laboratory Algorithm in People With and Without HIV in an 11-Year Nationwide Cohort Study. Open forum infectious diseases. 2021 Feb 1; 8(2):ofab030.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.    Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions


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.




Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.