Recent data reveals a concerning surge in sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses across the United States, with a notable increase among older Americans (via Axios).
A model of a billboard from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) which ran in Los Angeles earlier this year but has been rejected to be displayed in many other cities is seen at the AHF office in Hollywood, California on May 18, 2018. Sexually transmitted diseases have made an alarming resurgence across the US, where 2016 saw a record two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, including 628 cases of congenital syphilis. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Rising STD Diagnoses in the US
Between 2020 and 2023, there was an overall 4.8% increase in STD diagnoses, according to data from FAIR Health.
However, the age group 65 and older experienced the most dramatic rise, with a staggering 23.8% increase in diagnoses. This shocking surge was the highest among all age groups.
Patients aged 55 to 64 also saw a significant rise in STD diagnoses, with a 16.2% increase. In comparison, those aged 45 to 54 had a 7.6% rise, and the 35 to 44 age group saw an 8.6% increase.
Conversely, younger age groups, specifically those 18 and younger and those aged 19 to 24, experienced a decline in STD diagnoses during this period.
US STI Epidemic
The surge in cases is so concerning that the CDC already considers STIs a pandemic, with 2.5 million cases reported in the US in 2021.
The study at hand identified syphilis as the fastest-growing STD diagnosis across all age groups, with a 29% increase from 2020 to 2023. Earlier this year, CNBC reported that there were more than 207,000 cases of syphilis in the US in 2022-a 17% increase from the year before and the highest number since 1950.
Meanwhile, gonorrhea diagnoses rose by nearly 17%, while HIV and AIDS diagnoses increased by about 14%. Among seniors, there was a 32% increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnoses.
As Axios points out, the data aligns with findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reported increases in STD diagnoses among adults aged 55 and older between 2012 and 2022.
The data also highlighted noticeable gender disparities in STD rates.
The number of male patients diagnosed with gonorrhea increased by 59%, while the number of female patients with the same diagnosis decreased by about 19%.
Female patients with syphilis saw an almost 47% increase, compared to a roughly 23% increase among male patients.
These alarming statistics stress the urgent need for targeted conversations with older patients about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Rising STD rates in this demographic, coupled with the potential for misdiagnosis due to overlapping symptoms with other age-related conditions, necessitate immediate attention.
To address this concern, the CDC calls on healthcare providers to prioritize sexual health education, emphasizing safe practices and regular screenings.
Additionally, the CDC advocates for making STI testing and treatment more accessible by creating rapid point-of-care and self-tests, as well as expanding the organizations and settings that can provide these services.
"The US STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing. The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted - and so are the solutions," Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's Division of STD Prevention said in a statement.
