Concomitant sexually transmitted diseases in patients with diagnosed HIV/AIDS: A retrospective study

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which weaken the human immune system and thus increasing the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and vice versa. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of STIs in HIV/AIDS patients in Unit Perawatan Intermediate Penyakit Infeksi (UPIPI) Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya was conducted from January 1^st, 2013 to December 31^st, 2014. We examined the number and type of STIs, age distribution, gender, occupation, number of CD4⁺, and antiretroviral treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS. The data were presented in a descriptive analysis. Results: The percentage of STIs patients was 4.2% (148 of 3.350) of all patients with HIV/AIDS in the UPIPI Outpatient Clinic of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital. Most patients were 25-44 years old (70.9%) including 54.7% were males, 8.0% were housewives, and 1.4% were students. The five highest prevalence of STIs were condylomata acuminate (43.9%), non-specific genital ulcers (11.5%), syphilis (10.7%), genital herpes (10.1%), and scabies (8.1%). The sexual predilections consisted of heterosexual (70.9%), homosexual (12.2%), bisexual (2.0%), and no data (14.9%). Patients with the number of CD4⁺ <200 mm³ was 52.0% and 79.1% of the patients received ARV therapy. Conclusion: STIs and HIV/AIDS were closely related. HIV/AIDS could increase the incidence of STIs and STIs could elevate HIV/AIDS.