Recreational Drug Use among Chinese MSM and Transgender Individuals: Results from a National Online Cross-Sectional Study

Zhao, Peizhen; Tang, Songyuan; Wang, Cheng; Zhang, Ye; Best, John; Tangthanasup, Thitikarn May; Huang, Shujie; Yang, Bin; Wei, Chongyi; Tucker, Joseph D.; Tang, Weiming

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170024

Cited by 45 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Consistent with results from the coastal metropolises [ 12 – 14 ], the current study found poppers was the most prevalent recreational drug among MSM in southwestern China. Of the 1122 participants, 270 (24.1%) reported using poppers in their life time, which was higher than reports in Shenyang (19.2%) [ 13 ] and Changsha (16.1%) [ 14 ], but lower than the 3-month use rate (26.8%) among MSM in Beijing [ 17 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Prior studies from western countries reported that methamphetamine or ecstasy were the most commonly used drugs among MSM [ 8 , 9 ], which was consistent with findings in earlier years of China [ 10 , 11 ]. In recent years, several studies with large sample size approached the issue of drug use and found poppers (amyl nitrites) had outweighed methamphetamine or ecstasy and become the most popular recreational drug among MSM in coastal metropolises of China [ 12 – 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it is unknown whether these associations exist among MSM in China. Reports from coastal cities and online surveys in China have explored the prevalence and correlates of poppers use among MSM [ 12 , 17 ] and a very small number of studies from north or east coastal cities of China explored the relationship between poppers use and sexual risk behaviors (having more sex partners and unprotected receptive anal intercourse) [ 18 ]. Still, more evidence is needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of poppers use and its sexual risks among men who have sex with men in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2018

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BackgroundTo investigate the prevalence of poppers use and its relationship with sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in southwestern China.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in three cities of southwestern China between July and September 2016. Anonymous questionnaire survey was administered to collect data on demographics, drug use, sexual behaviors, history of STIs and HIV infection. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore factors correlated with sexual risk behaviors including group sex and unprotected anal intercourse (UAI).ResultsOf the 1122 participants included in the study, 24.1% reported a history of poppers use. 11.6% MSM reported ever engaging in group sex and 36.2% participants reported UAI with non-regular male partners in the past 12 months. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age > 25 (OR = 2.96, 95% CI 1.87–4.68), seeking sex partners through the internet (OR = 3.16, 95% CI 1.59–6.29), preferring receptive anal intercourse (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.12–3.26) and ever using poppers (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.25–2.83) were positively associated with engaging in group sex. Lower levels of education (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.33–2.80) and ever using poppers (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.01–2.05) were significantly correlated with UAI with non-regular partners.ConclusionsThe study suggested poppers was prevalent among MSM and its use was significantly associated with sexual risk behaviors. Given high prevalence of HIV among this subpopulation, comprehensive measures are needed to decrease poppers use and its potential risk for HIV transmission in southwestern China.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of poppers use and its sexual risks among men who have sex with men in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2018

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“…Third, the risks of HCV transmission among our included patients could not be definitely identified. While we used syphilis as a surrogate for high‐risk behaviours for HCV transmission, we were not able to examine the role of ‘chemsex’, in which parenteral illicit drugs might have been concurrently used in patients with HCV reinfection in Taiwan . Fourth, we did not perform phylogenetic analysis of HCV strains identified in the first episode and the subsequent episodes from the same patients with reinfections …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HCV reinfections after viral clearance among HIV‐positive patients with recent HCV infection in Taiwan

Huang

Chang

Liu

et al. 2019

Liver International

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Background: Higher rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection after viral clearance have been well described among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Europe. The epidemiology of HCV reinfection, however, has rarely been investigated among HIV-positive patients in Asia-Pacific region. Methods: We retrospectively identified HIV-positive patients with recent HCV infection who had cleared their primary infection, either spontaneously or via treatment, between January 2011 and May 2018. All included patients were observed until 31 March 2019. HCV reinfection was defined as recurrent HCV viraemia after achieving viral clearance with anti-HCV treatment or after spontaneous clearance. Results: During the study period, 219 HIV-positive patients (90.4% MSM) were diagnosed with recent HCV infection. Viral clearance with successful treatment was achieved in 108 patients (49.3%) and spontaneous clearance occurred in 20 (9.1%); of them, 18 (14.1%) acquired HCV reinfections, resulting in an incidence rate of 8.2 per 100 person-years of follow-up (95% CI 5.2-13.1). With the adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, we found a higher reinfection risk in patients with syphilis (adjusted hazard ratio 10.3, 95% CI 1.4-77.8, P = .023) compared to those without syphilis. HCV RNA testing, if performed only following syphilis and elevated aminotransferases, might miss 44.4% and 33.3% of HCV reinfections, respectively. Conclusions: Similar to the findings in Europe, we observed a high incidence of HCV reinfection among HIV-positive Taiwanese with recent HCV infection, which was significantly associated with syphilis. To identify HCV reinfections, annual HCV RNA testing should be instituted instead of testing driven by symptoms, syphilis or elevated aminotransferases. K E Y W O R D S direct-acting antivirals, men who have sex with men, sexually transmitted disease, sustained virological response S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article. How to cite this article: Huang M-H, Chang S-Y, Liu C-H, et al. HCV reinfections after viral clearance among HIV-positive patients with recent HCV infection in Taiwan. Liver Int.

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“…By the end of 2017, there were 2.6 million drug addicts nationwide [22]. The rate of RD use among China MSM ranged from 24.1 to 77.1% [23][24][25]. Thus, it is imperative to understand the relationship between polydrug use and recent HIV infection among Chinese MSM to develop "tailored" interventions that control RD abuse speci cally in the hope of mitigating the HIV epidemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polydrug use is associated with new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in China: a multicenter cross-sectional survey

Mao¹,

Leuba

Hu³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Recreational drug use is popular among men who have sex with men (MSM), while there is limited information about polydrug use and its consequent impact on sexual health and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Methods: Mixed methods were used to recruit MSM from seven cities in China between 2012 and 2013. Participants were divided into four subgroups based on the number of recreational drugs (RDs) used in the past 6 months. “Polydrug use” was defined as simultaneous use of ≥2 types of RDs. Information on demographics and HIV high-risk behaviors (HIV-HRBs) was collected, and blood samples were tested for recent HIV infection by the BED capture enzyme immunoassay. Results: A total of 4,496 Chinese MSM participated, of which 28.4% used RDs, and 5% were polydrug users. Polydrug users commonly took poppers with one or more types of other RDs (e.g. methamphetamine). Polydrug users were likely to be aged 26–30 years, have low educational attainment, be internal migrants, have a high monthly income, use versatile positions during anal intercourse, and have inadequate knowledge about prevention of HIV infection. As the number of RDs used in the past 6 months increased, the prevalence of HIV-HRBs increased ( P <0.05 for all). The odds of recent HIV infection were higher among those who used one type (aOR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.5–3.0) or two types of RDs (2.3, 1.0–5.2) in the past 6 months compared with those who did not use RDs. Conclusion: The level and pattern of polydrug use among Chinese MSM were different from high-income countries. Polydrug use had a dose-effect relationship with HIV-HRBs. Polydrug users who have higher levels of RDs use are more likely to engage in various sexual risks, thus may be associated with new HIV infections.

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Recreational Drug Use among Chinese MSM and Transgender Individuals: Results from a National Online Cross-Sectional Study

Cited by 45 publications

References 27 publications

Prevalence of poppers use and its sexual risks among men who have sex with men in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

Prevalence of poppers use and its sexual risks among men who have sex with men in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

HCV reinfections after viral clearance among HIV‐positive patients with recent HCV infection in Taiwan

Polydrug use is associated with new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in China: a multicenter cross-sectional survey

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