COVID-19 burden differed by city districts and ethnicities during the pre-vaccination era in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

BackgroundDuring the first wave of COVID-19 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a disproportional number of COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred in individuals with an ethnic minority background and in individuals living in city districts with a lower socioeconomic status (SES). In this study, we assessed whether these disparities continued throughout the second wave, when SARS-CoV-2 testing was available to anyone with symptoms but prior to the availability of COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsSurveillance data on all notified SARS-CoV-2 cases in Amsterdam between 15 June 2020 and 20 January 2021 were matched to municipal registration data to obtain the migration background of cases. Crude and directly age- and sex-standardized rates (DSR) of confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and deaths per 100,000 population were calculated overall, and by city districts, and migration backgrounds. Rate differences (RD) and rate ratios (RR) were calculated to compare DSR between city districts and migration backgrounds. We used multivariable Poisson regression to assess the association of city districts, migration backgrounds, age, and sex with rates of hospitalization.ResultsA total of 53,584 SARS-CoV-2 cases (median age 35 years [IQR = 25–74]) were notified, of whom 1,113 (2.1%) were hospitalized and 297 (0.6%) deceased. DSR of notified infections, hospitalization, and deaths per 100,000 population were higher in lower SES peripheral city districts (South-East/North/New-West) than higher SES central districts (Central/West/South/East), with almost a 2-fold higher hospitalization DSR in peripheral compared to central districts (RR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.74–1.97). Individuals with a non-European migration background also had a higher COVID-19 burden, particularly with respect to hospitalization rates, with a 4.5-fold higher DSR for individuals with a non-European background compared to ethnic-Dutch (RR 4.51, 95%CI = 4.37–4.65). City districts, migration backgrounds, male gender, and older age were independently associated with COVID-19 hospitalization rates.DiscussionIndividuals with a non-European background and individuals living in city districts with lower SES continued to independently have the highest COVID-19 burden in the second wave of COVID-19 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Changes in substance use among HIV-negative MSM: A longitudinal analysis, 1995-2019

Background: Research suggests shifting patterns of recreational drug consumption among MSM in recent decades. The present study evaluates population-level mean trajectories of substance use among HIV-negative MSM from 1995 to 2019. Methods: Using open cohort study data following MSM in the Netherlands (n=1495) since 1995, we applied generalized estimating equations to examine population-averaged estimates of five substances – alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, and poppers – from 1995 to 2019, as well as their use during sexual encounters. Results: Recent alcohol use decreased; predicted probabilities declined from 1995 to 2019 (.96 to .87). During the same period, cocaine and poppers use increased – (.10 to .23 and .37 to .47, respectively) and use during sex also increased (.05 to .16, and .32 to .41, respectively). Ecstasy use increased over time (.23 to .38), although not during sex. No significant changes in cannabis use occurred. Conclusions: While changes in use of various substances were mixed, increases in cocaine and poppers use during sexual encounters occurred among HIV-negative MSM over time. Efforts to intervene on substance use in connection with sex remain critical for health promotion

Increase in recreational drug use between 2008 and 2018: results from a prospective cohort study among HIV-negative men who have sex with men

Aims: To test whether recreational drug use (RDU) and sexualized drug use (SDU) changed in the Amsterdam area between 2008 and 2018 and quantify associations of SDU with condomless anal sex (CAS), recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infections (STI) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative men who have sex with men (MSM). Design: Open prospective cohort study. Setting: Public Health Service of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants: A total of 976 HIV-negative MSM, aged ≥ 18 years. Measurements: Self-reported RDU and sexual behaviour in the past 6 months. Laboratory-confirmed HIV and STI (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis). We studied: any RDU; any SDU (i.e. any RDU during sex); specific SDU (i.e. use of mephedrone, methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid/gamma-butyrolactone, ketamine, amphetamine, cocaine and/or ecstasy during sex); use of individual drugs; and use of individual drugs during sex. We evaluated changes over calendar years in the proportion of individuals with these end-points [using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE)] and number of drugs (using negative binomial regression with GEE), adjusted for current age, country of birth and education level. Findings: Median age of participants in 2008 was 33.2 years (interquartile range = 27.8–40.1); 83.1% were born in the Netherlands. The proportion of any RDU increased from 67.2% in 2008 to 69.5% in 2018 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–1.51]. Any SDU increased from 53.8% in 2008 to 59.8% in 2013 (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.07–1.42) and remained stable afterwards. Specific SDU increased from 25.0% in 2008 to 36.1% in 2018 (aOR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.71–2.58). The average number of drugs used increased for those reporting any RDU, any SDU and specific SDU (all P < 0.05. Among those engaging in sex, any SDU was associated with CAS (aOR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.19–1.55), HIV (aOR = 5.86; 95% CI = 2.39–14.4) and STI (aOR = 2.31; 95% CI = 1.95–2.73). Specific SDU was associated with CAS (aOR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.37–1.81), HIV (aOR = 6.30; 95% CI = 3.28–12.1) and STI (aOR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.81–2.55). Conclusions: Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative men who have sex with men in Amsterdam, recreational drug use, including sexualized drug use, increased between 2008 and 2018. Sexualized drug use was strongly associated with condomless anal sex, HIV and sexually transmitted infections

Pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies: Use, eligibility, and intention to use.

OBJECTIVE:Currently, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is not covered by health insurance in the Netherlands. We examined time trends in use of PrEP, characteristics of PrEP users, PrEP eligibility and intention to use PrEP among HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS). DESIGN:Prospective cohort study. METHODS:We used data from four 6-monthly questionnaire waves, collected between 2015-2017. PrEP use over time was examined in logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations. Using descriptive statistics, we compared PrEP users before first-time initiation to non-PrEP-users. We used national guidelines to assess PrEP eligibility. RESULTS:We included 687 MSM. Median age was 40 (IQR 33-47) years in 2015. Recent PrEP use was reported by 57/687 (8%) MSM. PrEP use increased over calendar time (P<0.001) to 7% in 2017. PrEP users did not differ from non-PrEP users in socio-demographic characteristics, but reported a significantly higher median number of casual sex partners, more often reported condomless anal sex and chemsex with casual partners, and more often had an sexually transmitted infection in the preceding 6 months (all P<0.05). PrEP eligibility increased over time, but the effect was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). PrEP eligibility criteria were met by 149/460 (32%) at wave 4, of whom 31/149 (21%) reported use of PrEP. The proportion with a high intention to use PrEP was greater among eligible than non-eligible MSM (51% vs. 24%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION:PrEP use increased over time but remained under 10%, even though 32% met the eligibility criteria, of whom 51% had a high intention to use PrEP. This suggests that a large proportion of Dutch MSM at risk could benefit from PrEP

Increase in recreational drug use between 2008 and 2018: results from a prospective cohort study among HIV-negative men who have sex with men.

AIMS: To test whether recreational drug use (RDU) and sexualized drug use (SDU) changed in the Amsterdam area between 2008 and 2018 and quantify associations of SDU with condomless anal sex (CAS), recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infections (STI) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative men who have sex with men (MSM). DESIGN: Open prospective cohort study. Setting was the Public Health Service of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A total of 976 HIV-negative MSM, aged ≥ 18 years. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported RDU and sexual behaviour in the past 6 months. Laboratory-confirmed HIV and STI (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis). We studied: any RDU; any SDU (i.e. any RDU during sex); specific SDU (i.e. use of mephedrone, methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid/gamma-butyrolactone, ketamine, amphetamine, cocaine and/or ecstasy during sex); use of individual drugs; and use of individual drugs during sex. We evaluated changes over calendar years in the proportion of individuals with these end-points [using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE)] and number of drugs (using negative binomial regression with GEE), adjusted for current age, country of birth and education level. FINDINGS: Median age of participants in 2008 was 33.2 years; 83.1% were born in the Netherlands. The proportion of any RDU increased from 67.2% in 2008 to 69.5% in 2018. Any SDU increased from 53.8% in 2008 to 59.8% in 2013 and remained stable afterwards. Specific SDU increased from 25.0% in 2008 to 36.1% in 2018. The average number of drugs used increased for those reporting any RDU, any SDU and specific SDU (all P < 0.05. Among those engaging in sex, any SDU was associated with CAS and STI. Specific SDU was associated with CAS, HIV and STI . CONCLUSIONS: Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative men who have sex with men in Amsterdam, recreational drug use, including sexualized drug use, increased between 2008 and 2018. Sexualized drug use was strongly associated with condomless anal sex, HIV and sexually transmitted infections

COVID-19 Impacts Across Multiple Life Domains of Vulnerable Socio-Demographic Groups Including Migrants: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: We assessed the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple life domains across socio-demographic groups in Netherlands. Methods: After the first COVID-19 wave, we distributed online questionnaires among 13,031 participants of the multi-ethnic HELIUS cohort. Questionnaires contained questions on changes in income status, healthy behaviors, mental health, and access to non-COVID-19 health care. We then calculated differences in adjusted proportions of participants that reported negative changes across multiple life domains by migration background, age, sex, education, and occupation. Results: 4,450 individuals (35%) responded, of which 4,294 were included. Older populations and men seemed to be less vulnerable to negative changes in multiple life domains during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic period, while populations with a migration background and lower education/occupation groups seemed to be more vulnerable to negative changes. Conclusion: Not all populations vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality are also more vulnerable to COVID-19 impacts across multiple other life domains. Targeted interventions are needed in socio-demographic groups that are most impacted by COVID-19 in various life domains to prevent a further increase of their already increased risk of chronic diseases after the pandemic

Change in sexual risk behaviour after 6 months of pre-exposure prophylaxis use: Results from the Amsterdam pre-exposure prophylaxis demonstration project

Objective: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use may lead to higher STI incidence via behavioural risk compensation. We examined changes in sexual behaviour between baseline and 6 months after PrEP initiation among MSM and transgender women (TGW). Design: Prospective, open-label demonstration study at a large sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Methods: Participants answered questions about sexual behaviour in the preceding 3 months, including number of anal sex partners and frequency of anal sex with and without condom by partner type and were tested for STI. Sexual behaviour at baseline was compared with 6 months after PrEP initiation using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with an increase in receptive condomless anal sex acts (rCASa) with casual partners. Results: Data were available for 328 (99%) MSM and 2 (1%) TGW. The number of receptive and insertive condomless anal sex acts (CASa) increased (baseline: median 11, interquartile range 4-23; 6 months: median 14, interquartile range 6-26, P < 0.001), whereas the number of anal sex partners (P = 0.2) and anal sex acts (P = 0.8) remained unchanged. Prevalence of STI was stable. Older age, prior engagement in chemsex, recent use of postexposure prophylaxis and choosing a daily PrEP regimen at baseline were associated with an increase in rCASa with casual partners. Conclusion: Over the first 6 months after initiation of PrEP, an increase in insertive and receptive CASa with casual partners was observed. Long-term follow-up data are needed and STI incidence needs to be closely monitored

A psychosocial network approach studying biomedical HIV prevention uptake between 2017 and 2019.

Abstract Biomedical HIV-prevention strategies (BmPS) among men who have sex with men (MSM), such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and viral load sorting (VLS), are essential but relatively new and their uptake gradual. Using an extension of the causal attitude network approach, we investigated which beliefs are related to uptake of PrEP and VLS at each time-point. We included 632 HIV-negative MSM from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies from four data-waves between 2017 and 2019. We estimated weighted, undirected networks for each time-point, where we included pairwise interactions of PrEP and VLS uptake and related beliefs. PrEP use increased from 10 to 31% (p < 0.001), while VLS was reported by 7–10% at each time-point. Uptake of both BmPS was directly related to the perceived positive impact of the strategy on one’s quality of sex life and perceived supportive social norms. Overall network structure differed between time points, specifically in regard to PrEP. At earlier time points, perceptions of efficacy and affordability played an important role for PrEP uptake, while more recently social and health-related concerns became increasingly important.The network structure differed across data-waves, suggesting specific time changes in uptake motives. These findings may be used in communication to increase prevention uptake

The impact of COVID-19-related restrictions in 2020 on sexual healthcare use, pre-exposure prophylaxis use, and sexually transmitted infection incidence among men who have sex with men in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Objectives: We studied the effects of restrictions related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) pandemic on the use of sexual healthcare and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in a prospective, open-label PrEP demonstration study (AMPrEP) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Methods: We retrieved data from 2019 to 2020 for participants with one or more study visit in 2019 (n = 305) and from two COVID-19 questionnaires (2020: n = 203; 2021: n = 160). Analyses were stratified for three periods of pandemic-related restrictions (first: 15 March 2020–15 June 2020; second: 16 June 2020–15 September 2020; third: 16 September 2020–31 December 2020 or 1 April 2021 for the COVID-19 questionnaire). Endpoints included returning for care during the pandemic, PrEP use (increased/unchanged vs. deceased/stopped, relative to 2019), and any STI/HIV. We modelled determinants of care and PrEP use via multivariable logistic regression and STI incidence using piecewise Poisson regression, comparing the 2020 and 2019 periods. Results: Of the 305 MSM included in the analysis, 72.8% returned for care during the pandemic, and this was significantly more likely among daily (vs. event-driven) PrEP users (p < 0.001). Increased/unchanged PrEP use ranged from 55.2% to 58.1% across the three pandemic periods and was more likely among those reporting chemsex in the first (p = 0.001) and third (p = 0.020) periods and among those reporting an increased/unchanged number of sex partners during the second period (p = 0.010). STI incidence was significantly lower in 2020 than in 2019 during the first period (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28–0.68) and not significantly different during the second (IRR 1.38; 95% CI 0.95–2.00) and third (IRR 1.42; 95% CI 0.86–2.33) periods. No HIV was diagnosed. Conclusion: COVID-19-related restrictions coincided with reduced care and PrEP use. Changes in STI incidence suggest delayed diagnoses. Ways to ensure continued access to sexual healthcare during restrictions are needed