Why screening matters: Clinical correlations between anogenital warts and sexually transmitted diseases: A 3-year retrospective study evaluating the diagnostic value of screening Tarama neden önemli: Anogenital verrü ve cinsel yolla bulaşan hastalıkların klinik korelasyonu: Taramanın önemini inceleyen üç yıllık retrospektif çalışma

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Küçük K., KARTAL S. P.

Turkderm Turkish Archives of Dermatology and Venereology, cilt.60, sa.2, ss.81-86, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

Background and Design: Anogenital warts (AGW) are common sexually transmitted infections caused by human papillomavirus. Its association with other sexually transmitted diseases is clinically significant. Materials and Methods: Syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening results of patients aged >18 years who were diagnosed with AGW between January 2022 and December 2024 were included. Results: A total of 3,120 patients (498 females and 2.622 males) were included in the analysis. Men in the 26-35 age group were most frequently diagnosed with AGW. The average number of visits was 3.02±3.2. Nineteen (0.6%) patients were VDRL-positive, 23 (0.7%) were HIV-positive, 2 (0.1%) were HCV-positive, and 38 (1.2%) were HBV-positive. Ten (0.3%) patients had syphilis, six (0.2%) had HIV, and four (0.1%) had HBV infections and were newly diagnosed. HIV positivity was higher among immigrants (p<0.001). The HBV positivity rate differed significantly among the age groups (p<0.001). Although positivity was lower in the 18-25 years age group, it was higher in the 56-65 years age group. A total of 1.293 (41.4%) participants had been vaccinated against HBV. Conclusion: AGW were observed at all ages and were more frequently diagnosed in young men and women. Patients may have co-infections with HIV, HBV, or syphilis. Education on prevention methods and screening should not be overlooked in high-risk populations.