title: HIV antibody in persons screened for syphilis: prevalence in a New York City emergency room and primary care clinics.
abstract: An anonymous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence survey was performed on bloods sent for syphilis serologic testing from the general medical or pediatric clinics or emergency room of a municipal hospital in the Bronx, New York City. From July-December 1987, 549 sera from persons aged 15-54 were collected. HIV antibody was detected in 29/549 (5.3%) sera, increased with age from 0% in the group under 20 to 16.7% in those aged 35-39, and was significantly higher in men (27/230, 11.7%) compared to women (2/319, 0.6%) (P less than .05). Among men aged 35-39, 10/29 (34.5%) were HIV infected. The HIV seroprevalence in emergency room sera was 8/61 (13.1%) versus 21/488 (4.3%) from the out-patient clinics (P less than .05). The presence of a reactive syphilis serology was strongly associated with HIV infection independent of gender (Mantel-Haenszel summary odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% CI [1.8, 7.7]) but was stronger for women with reactive syphilis serologies (OR 45.5, 95% CI 5.3, 387.6) than for men (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2, 5.8). AIDS prevention strategies may reach at-risk sexually active individuals by focusing on hospital-based emergency rooms and out-patients clinics in areas with high HIV seroprevalence.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467.
authors: E E
authors: EE
authors: Schoenbaum
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Webber
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vermund
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Gayle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies