Review of sexualized drug use associated with sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to quantify associations between sexualized drug use (SDU) and sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) diagnoses in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) with defined temporal proximity between SDU exposure and STBBI diagnoses.

Methods: In May 2018 and June 2019, we searched the literature for primary studies that quantified the association between STBBI and SDU among GBMSM. A random-effects model was used to meta-analyze the data and estimate the association between SDU and STBBIs.

Results: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria and fourteen studies were included in the meta-analyses. SDU was associated with higher odds of bacterial STI diagnoses, higher odds of HCV diagnoses, and higher odds of HIV diagnoses. Associations between SDU and diagnoses of bacterial STIs or HCV remained after adjustment for behavioral and sociodemographic factors.

Conclusions: Robust and consistent associations between SDU and STBBI identified in this review add to the evidence suggesting SDU is a potential contributor to bacterial STIs and HCV or a proxy indicator for other risk factors.

Keywords: Blood-borne infections; Chemsex; Drug use; GBMSM; Sexually transmitted infections.