Analysis of serum syphilis screening results of 364 MSM patients: Based on the results of serum test and mobile app

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of syphilis in MSM patients in Guangzhou. Methods Yang Cheng Yi Fang smart application integrated a set of assessment questionnaire for syphilis infection risk was developed for MSM to self-evaluate the risk of syphilis at voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinic in the study. The syphilis risk is classified into high-, middle- and low-risk levels. Subjects with middle to high risk were automatically referred to a STD prevention institution or general hospital for further screen for syphilis and HIV. The individuals′ test results and their respective questionnaire were analyzed. Results Among the 364 evaluated MSM individuals, individuals at low-, middle- and high-risk accounted for 6.04% (22/364), 81.32% (296/364) and 12.64% (46/364), respectively. The positive rates of syphilis and HIV were 9.07% (33/364) and 3.02% (11/364), respectively. The positive rates of syphilis did not differ significantly between middle- and high-risk groups (9.12% vs 13.04%,χ2=0.33,P=0.569). The risk of syphilis was higher in individuals who occasionally or never or often used condom than in those who always used condom (χ2=7.06,P=0.030). Moreover, the risk of syphilis was higher in subjects whose sexual partner had syphilis than in those whose sexual partner did not have syphilis (χ2=36.27, P<0.001). Conclusions The rate of syphilis infections is higher in MSM individuals in Guangzhou. Online assessment of the risk of syphilis infections and referral, followed by serum test can be helpful to precisely prevent and control syphilis infections in MSM individuals