Differences in curable STDs between HIV and non-HIV populations in Spain

The pandemic impact of HIV has changed the clinical spectrum of STDs all ov er the world. The incidence and frequency of STDs in the different global g eographic areas demonstrate the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of va rious local and national health systems and is simultaneously informing abo ut the sexual behaviours of the population. The purpose of this study was t o determine the frequency of curable STDs (herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, s yphilis, trichomoniasis) in a hospital-based STD clinic in Madrid, Spain du ring a 4-year period. Patients were referred mainly from the emergency depa rtment, gynecological wards, and family planning (61%) as well as from the HIV-hospital unit (31 beds) and outpatient department (39%). The total numb er of patients seen was 952 (243 men, 709 women) with an annual average of 238 patients per year. Of these, 139 (14.6%) were HIV-patients and 813 (85. 4%) non-HIV patients. In non-HIV patients, STDs were identified in 493 case s (54.2%). In HIV-patients, STDs were diagnosed in 108 cases (77.7%; p less than or equal to 0.001). Two or more STDs were more prevalent in HIV than non-HIV patients. The frequency of STDs in both HIV and non-HIV patients we re vulvovaginal candidiasis, 47.8%:57.2%; syphilis, 11.7%:1.4% (p less than or equal to 0.05); gonorrhea, 5.3%:3.9%; Gardnerella vaginosis, 6.3%:4.8%; genital chlamydia, 6.3%:9.06%; trichomoniasis, 17%:6.5% (p less than or eq ual to 0.05); and genital herpes, 20.2%:5.3% (p less than or equal to 0.05) .