Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Euro Surveill. 2022 Apr;27(14). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.14.2100503.
IntroductionUsers of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) require periodic testing for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and renal function. Before PrEP was made free of charge through statutory health insurance in late 2019, PrEP users in Germany had to pay for testing themselves.AimWe investigated self-reported HIV, STI and renal function testing frequencies among self-funded PrEP users in Germany, factors associated with infrequent testing, and STI diagnoses.MethodsA cross-sectional anonymous online survey in 2018 and 2019 recruited current PrEP users via dating apps for men who have sex with men (MSM), a PrEP community website, anonymous testing sites and friends. We used descriptive methods and logistic regression for analysis.ResultsWe recruited 4,848 current PrEP users. Median age was 37 years (interquartile range (IQR): 30-45), 88.7% identified as male, and respectively 26.3%, 20.9% and 29.2% were tested less frequently for HIV, STI and renal function than recommended. Participants with lower STI testing frequency were significantly less likely to report STI diagnoses during PrEP use, especially among those with many partners and inconsistent condom use. Factors most strongly associated with infrequent testing included not getting tested before starting PrEP, using PrEP from informal sources and on-demand/intermittent PrEP use.DiscussionIn a setting of self-funded PrEP, many users obtained medical tests less frequently than recommended, which can lead to missed diagnoses. Barriers to testing should be addressed to enable proper medical supervision. The suitability of testing frequencies to PrEP users with less frequent risk exposures needs to be evaluated.
简介
暴露前预防(PrEP)的使用者需要定期进行 HIV、性传播感染(STI)和肾功能检测。在 2019 年末,通过法定健康保险免费提供 PrEP 之前,德国的 PrEP 用户必须自行付费进行检测。
目的
本研究旨在调查德国自费 PrEP 用户自我报告的 HIV、STI 和肾功能检测频率、与检测不频繁相关的因素,以及 STI 诊断情况。
方法
2018 年至 2019 年,通过男男性接触者(MSM)约会应用程序、PrEP 社区网站、匿名检测点和朋友招募当前使用 PrEP 的用户,进行横断面匿名在线调查。我们使用描述性方法和逻辑回归进行分析。
结果
我们招募了 4848 名当前使用 PrEP 的用户。中位年龄为 37 岁(四分位距(IQR):30-45),88.7% 自我报告为男性,分别有 26.3%、20.9%和 29.2%的 HIV、STI 和肾功能检测频率低于推荐频率。检测频率较低的参与者报告 PrEP 使用期间 STI 诊断的可能性显著降低,尤其是那些性伴较多且 condom 使用不规律的参与者。与检测不频繁相关性最强的因素包括在开始 PrEP 前未进行检测、从非正规渠道获得 PrEP 和按需/间歇性 PrEP 使用。
讨论
在自费 PrEP 的环境下,许多使用者的检测频率低于推荐频率,这可能导致漏诊。需要解决检测障碍,以实现适当的医疗监督。需要评估检测频率是否适用于暴露频率较低的 PrEP 用户。
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2020-10