The epidemic of HIV and syphilis and the correlation with substance abuse among men who have sex with men in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In China, the HIV/AIDS epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been expanding in recent years. Substance abuse in MSM was not well studied as the independent risk factor for HIV and syphilis infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. The present review aimed to determine the correlation between HIV/Syphilis infections and substance abuse and other sexual risk behaviors among MSM. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Wanfang Data, and VIP Chinese Journal Database for relevant articles of quantitative studies published between 2010 and May 31, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using R software. Pooled estimated of the association-odds ratio, with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects models stratified by study design. Q statistics and I2 were used to measure the heterogeneity. Results: Our meta-analysis included 61,719 Chinese MSM from 52 eligible studies. The pooled HIV prevalence rate among substance-abusing MSM was 10.0% (95% CI = 0.08-0.13). Substance abusers were more likely to have a higher prevalence of HIV (OR = 1.59) and syphilis (OR = 1.48) infections than non-substance abusers. Substance abusers were also more likely to seek sexual partners through the internet or social media applications (OR = 1.63), engage in unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) (OR = 1.69), group sex (OR = 2.78), and engage in commercial intercourse (OR = 2.04) compared to non-users. Regarding testing behaviors, substance abusers had a higher proportion of HIV or STI testing in their lifetime (OR = 1.70) compared with non-substance abusers (p < 0.05). They were also more likely to have had more sexual partners (≥2; OR = 2.31) and more likely to have consumed alcohol (OR = 1.49) in the past 6 months. Conclusions: Our study shows the correlation between substance abuse and HIV/Syphilis infection. Eliminating disparities in HIV/Syphilis infection among substance abusing men who have sex with men (MSM) can be achieved if the Chinese government and public health sectors could provide targeted knowledge popularization and diagnosis interventions among high-risk populations.

Prevalence of syphilis among people living with HIV and its implication for enhanced coinfection monitoring and management in China: A meta-analysis.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an increased risk of syphilis infection. The objectives of this study were to assess the overall prevalence of syphilis among PLWH in China and identify factors associated with syphilis infection among PLWH. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wan-fang Data, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) to identify studies that reported the prevalence of syphilis among PLWH in China and were published in English or Chinese from January 1, 1990, to May 31, 2022. The reference lists of retrieved articles and relevant reviews were also checked to identify additional studies. A random-effect model was fitted to calculate the pooled syphilis prevalence among PLWH. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine the potential source of heterogeneity. Results: Of the 1,599 articles screened, 29 studies involving 34,740 participants were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of syphilis among PLWH in China was 19.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.4-24.8%, I 2 = 98.9%]. Subgroup analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV (21.9%, 95% CI: 17.2-26.9%) was much higher than that among heterosexuals (10.3%, 95% CI: 5.2-16.8%); there was regional diversity in the prevalence of syphilis, the highest in northern China (31.7%, 95% CI: 17.9-47.4%), followed by central-southern China (26.7%, 95% CI: 11.4-45.7%), and the lowest in northwestern China (15.0%, 95% CI: 6.9-25.4%); the syphilis prevalence among PLWH decreased as CD4 + T cell count increased (19.6% in CD4 + T cell < 200 vs. 8.7% in ≥ 500) and was higher among non-antiretroviral therapy (non-ART) HIV-infected patients (21.0%, 95% CI: 9.9-35.0%) than that among ART ones (16.1%, 95% CI: 3.9-34.3%). Conclusions: Our study showed a significantly high prevalence of syphilis among PLWH in China, particularly among MSM with HIV. Developing national guidelines for the integrated screening, monitoring, and management of HIV and syphilis as well as syphilis diagnosis and treatment training programs for physicians at designated HIV treatment hospitals is urgent and crucial to combat HIV and syphilis coinfection in China.

Assessment of POC CD4 Detecting Mode in District or County Labs - Jiangsu Province, China, 2021.

Objective: This study seeks to explore efficient and multiple-item detection modes in new-style HIV labs, as well as access the accuracy and reliability of CD4 cell count detected by point of care (POC) to analyze POC work feasibility in district or county labs. Methods: POC devices adopted in grassroots-level labs and flow cytometers adopted in prefecture-level labs were used to analyze the same group of blood samples. The individual results were collected and compared for parametric tests in correlation and consistency. Results: The Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between results detected by FACSPresto and those by FACSCalibur, FACSVia, FACSCantoII, and EPICSXL were 0.922, 0.938, 0.914, and 0.823, respectively; the average deviations were -25.64, 24.68, 3.05, and 70.97 cells/µL, respectively; the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between results by Pima and FACSCalibur, FACSVia, FACSCantoII, and EPICSXL were 0.900, 0.950, 0.954, and 0.876, respectively; and the average deviations were -73.99, -40.78, -29.32, and -22.75 cells/µL, respectively. Discussion: Strong positive correlations and good consistency were observed between the CD4 count tested by POC and flow cytometers. These findings provide theoretical support for new-style HIV labs and one-stop services, which can provide shorter testing duration and simpler testing processes, so that the most comprehensive testing results can be obtained in the shortest amount of time.

HIV/AIDS late presentation and its associated factors in China from 2010 to 2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Late presentation to HIV/AIDS care presents serious health concerns, like increased transmission and high healthcare costs, increased mortality, early development of opportunistic infection, increased risk of antiretroviral therapy drug resistance. Despite the effort to contain the HIV/AIDS epidemic, LP has remained an impediment to individual immune reconstitution and public health. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to estimate the prevalence and determine the factors associated with late presentation to HIV/AIDS care. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Wanfang, and Weipu database for articles published from 2010 to 2020. We utilized I2 statistics and Q-test to estimate heterogeneity between studies. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to calculate the aggregate odds ratio of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care. RESULTS: Of 9563 titles and abstracts retrieved, 189 were identified as potentially eligible and 39 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care was 43.26%. The major risk factors were patients ≥ 50 years old (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.85-2.58; I2 = 97.44%), married (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.35-1.68; I2 = 96.58%), with heterosexual contact as risk factor for infection (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.73-2.11; I2 = 90.74%) and diagnosed in medical institutions (OR = 2.35,95% CI: 2.11-2.62; I2 = 96.05%). In middle or low HIV prevalence areas, patients ≥ 50 years old (P = 0.01), married (P < 0.01) and diagnosed in medical institutions (P = 0.01) were more likely to be presented late than in high prevalence areas. From 2016-2020, the OR of patients who were married and diagnosed in medical facilities were significantly lower than before (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients ≥ 50 years old, married, with heterosexual contact as risk factor for infection, and diagnosed in medical institutions were risk factors of LP. Gender had no significant relationship with LP. In middle or low prevalence areas, patients who were ≥ 50 years old, married, and diagnosed in medical institutions were more likely to be presented late than in other areas. Married patients and those diagnosed in medical institutions after 2015 have a lower risk of LP than before.