SYPHILIS rates remain alarmingly high among people living with HIV in Türkiye, particularly in younger men, according to a new large-scale cross-sectional study analyzing national laboratory data.
Researchers examined the records of 2,768 adults living with HIV who submitted blood specimens for routine CD4⁺ T cell testing between January 2022 and December 2024. Syphilis seropositivity was confirmed by concurrent positive results on both VDRL and TPHA tests, providing a robust assessment of co-infection rates in this population.
The study found that one in three individuals (33.3%) with HIV also tested positive for syphilis. Prevalence among men was markedly higher than among women, with 37.0% of men affected compared to just 6.1% of women. Patients aged 31 to 40 years had the highest seropositivity rate at 37.4%. Interestingly, the average age did not differ significantly between those with and without syphilis, suggesting that age alone is not a distinguishing risk factor beyond the concentration seen in early middle age.
These findings emphasize the persistent overlap in transmission routes between syphilis and HIV and the public health challenge posed by untreated or undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this vulnerable group. The disproportionately high prevalence in males, likely reflecting higher rates of risky sexual behaviors in certain subgroups, highlights the need for targeted public health interventions.
The authors recommend strengthening integrated STI and HIV care strategies, particularly emphasizing routine syphilis screening in HIV care settings. Enhanced prevention efforts are also warranted, especially for younger male patients who remain at elevated risk.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence that co-infection with syphilis remains a pressing issue in middle-income countries, despite the availability of effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Reference:
Merdan S et al. Burden of syphilis among people living with HIV: a large cross-sectional study from Türkiye. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025. doi: 10.1007/s10096-025-05199-1. [Online ahead of print]
