Sexualized Drug Use (Chemsex) Is Associated with High-Risk Sexual Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men: Data from the U-SEX GESIDA 9416 Study

• DOI: 10.1089/apc.2017.0263
• Publication Date: 2018-03-29T15:40:06Z
• Authors: Alicia González-B...; Helen Dolengevich...; Ignacio Pérez-Valero; Alfonso Cabello; María Jesús Téllez; José Sanz; Leire Pérez-Latorre; José Ignacio Bern...; Jesús Troya; Sara De La Fuente; Otilia Bisbal; Ignacio Santos; Sari Arponen; Víctor Hontañon; José Luis Casado; Pablo Ryan
• Keywords: sexualized drug use; Adult; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; chemsex; Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; HIV Infections; Drug Users; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Risk-Taking; 0302 clinical medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; HIV Seropositivity; Prevalence; Humans; high-risk sexual behaviors; MSM; Homosexuality, Male; sexually transmitted infections; human immunodeficiency virus; Unsafe Sex; Middle Aged; Hepatitis C; Psicología; 3. Good health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Spain

The magnitude of sexualized drug use (SDU), also known as chemsex, and its association with sexually transmitted infections (STI) has not been systematically explored in HIV-positive patients. This study aimed to calculate the prevalence SDU associated factors a sample men who have sex (MSM) Spain. We calculated frequency MSM responded an anonymous online survey on sexual behavior recreational use. analyzed differences between those did (data taken from physician's registry). SDU, risk behaviors, STI was evaluated using univariate multivariate analysis. Data were collected managed Research Electronic Capture (REDCap). completed by 742 MSM, whom 60% had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), 62% diagnosed STI, 216 (29.1%) reported recent (slamsex 16% cases). In analysis, patients engaged more likely high-risk behaviors diagnosis than participants engage SDU. A hepatitis C independently slamsex (5.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.06–13.13]; p < 0.001), chemsex (2.51 CI, 1.28–4.91]; = 0.007), UAI (1.82 0.90–3.70]; 0.094). or our is relatively high. found clear including C.