Specific sex drug combinations contribute to the majority of recent HIV seroconversions among MSM in the MACS.
BACKGROUND
New HIV infections are being observed among men who have sex with men (MSM). Understanding the fusion of risky sexual behaviors, stimulant and erectile dysfunction drug use with HIV seroconversion may provide direction for focused intervention.


METHODS
During the follow-up period (1998-2008), we identified 57 HIV seroconverters among 1667 initially HIV-seronegative men. Time to seroconversion was modeled using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis for 7 combinations of sex drugs (inhaled nitrites or "poppers", stimulants, and erectile dysfunction drugs) used at the current or previous semiannual visit, adjusting for other risk factors including sexual behavior, alcohol and other drugs used, and depression. Model-based adjusted attributable risks were then calculated.


RESULTS
The risk of seroconversion increased linearly with the number of unprotected receptive anal sex partners (URASP), with hazard ratios ranging from 1.73 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75 to 4.01] for 1 partner, to 4.23 (95% CI: 1.76 to 10.17) for 2-4 partners, and to 14.21 (95% CI: 6.27 to 32.20) for 5+ partners, independent of other risk factors. After adjustment, risks for seroconversion increased from 2.99 (95% CI: 1.02 to 8.76) for men who reported using stimulants only (1 drug) to 8.45 (95% CI: 2.67 to 26.71) for men who reported using all 3 sex drugs. The use of any of the 7 possible sex drug combinations accounted for 63% of the 9-year HIV seroincidence in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. When contributions of increased URASP and combination drug use were analyzed together, the total attributable risk for HIV seroconversion was 74%, with 41% attributable to URASP alone and a residual of 33% due to other direct or indirect effects of sex drug use.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of poppers, stimulants, and erectile dysfunction drugs increased risk for HIV seroconversion significantly in this cohort. These data reinforce the importance of implementing interventions that target drug reduction as part of comprehensive and efficacious HIV prevention strategies.
Ostrow
David G
DG
The Chicago Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and the Ogburn-Stouffer Center for Social Organization Research at the National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60657, USA. ostrow-david@NORC.org
Plankey
Michael W
MW
Cox
Christopher
C
Li
Xiuhong
X
Shoptaw
Steven
S
Jacobson
Lisa P
LP
Stall
Ronald C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations