Infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major global public health issue. Many individuals who are diagnosed with HIV are later diagnosed with other diseases, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae [NG], a bacterium that is transmissible from one person to another during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with gonorrhea infection after HIV infection among the HIV-positive male population in Michigan. METHODS: Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate the differences between the gonorrhea-diagnosed case and non-diagnosed control populations. Results are presented using univariable, fully-parameterized multivariable and best-fit multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among the 10,721 HIV-positive individuals that were included in the study, 739 (6.9%) were diagnosed with gonorrhea at some point after their HIV diagnosis. HIV males that were ever diagnosed with gonorrhea were six years younger at HIV diagnosis when compared to those where were never diagnosed with gonorrhea. Older age is positively associated with NG-positive diagnosis when compared to the age 20-24 reference category. Conversely, those in younger age groups had increased odds of having a NG-positive outcome. Individuals identifying themselves as white (OR=0.56, 95% CI [0.46, 0.68]) or Hispanic (OR=0.45, 95% CI [0.31, 0.7]) were less likely to be associated with a positive NG outcome when compared to a black reference group. DISCUSSION: HIV- and gonorrhea-infected individuals share similar risk factors. Public health programs must be expanded to reduce barriers for testing of sexually transmitted diseases.
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