HIV infections and associated costs attributable to syphilis coinfection among African Americans.
OBJECTIVE
We estimated the number and cost of syphilis-attributable HIV cases among African Americans.


METHODS
A mathematical model of HIV transmission was used to estimate the number of partnerships consisting of HIV-discordant African Americans in which infectious syphilis was present and the number of new HIV cases attributable to syphilis in these partnerships.


RESULTS
In 2000, an estimated 545 new cases of HIV infection among African Americans could be attributed to the facilitative effects of infectious syphilis, at a cost of about 113 million dollars.


CONCLUSIONS
Syphilis prevention could reduce HIV incidence rates and the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS on the African American community, resulting in substantial reductions in future HIV/AIDS medical costs.
Chesson
Harrell W
HW
Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30324, USA. hbc7@cdc.gov
Pinkerton
Steven D
SD
Voigt
Richard
R
Counts
George W
GW
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000635:transmission*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000145:classification*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000145:classification / Q000208:ethnology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology