Sexual Health

STI (GUM) data

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Introduction

Key points from the latest release (published August 2010)

Interpretation

Excel tables/charts

Diagnostic codes and groupings

Other related reports

Introduction

Data on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) diagnosed in Scottish Genito-urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics have been continuously collected since 1922. There have been several revisions to the data gathered and the way that this has been collected over time, with the latest revision being April 2004. That revision allowed more detailed information on screening and HIV testing to be collected (see notes under interpretation).

It should be stressed that the data in this publication are for STIs diagnosed in Scottish GUM clinics only, and therefore do not give the complete picture. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) publish quarterly and annual returns on labratory data for four of the main STIs - chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and genital herpes. HPS figures show that more than 50% of chlamydia is now diagnosed outwith GUM clinics. This is not so apparent in the other three conditions, with the total number of diagnoses being similar in both GUM and laboratory datasets.

Key points

This latest release presents data on STIs and other activity in GUM clinics for 2009.

In 2009, as seen in previous years, more new acute STIs were in men, with the number of diagnoses of syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital warts, NSGI (non-specific genital infection), non-chlamydial, HIV and other STIs being higher in men than women. The number of diagnoses of chlamydia, genital herpes and trichomoniasis was greater in women.
Almost a quarter of all acute STI diagnoses are in those aged less than 20.
The rate of new acute STIs varies greatly across NHS Boards with, as you would expect, the highest rates being recorded in the large urban boards of Lothian, Tayside and Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

A more detailed report, including analyses based on amalgamated GUM and laboratory data together with more specialised data relating to HIV and other areas of sexual health, is to be published at the end of November. This will be available on ISD's website.

Interpretation

The year 2009 saw GUM clinics start a phased transition from STISS to NASH. The implementation, which will be of considerable benefit in the future, produced initial ?teething problems? inherent in the migration from one system to another. This, in conjunction with a temporary suspension of laboratory testing during the H1N1 outbreak, has resulted in a shortfall of data for 2009. The extent of this is uncertain and is unlikely to be corrected in the future.

This release represents only part of the picture as a number of STIs are frequently diagnosed in other health settings: mainly GP surgeries and Family Planning clinics. For example around two thirds of women diagnosed with chlamydia are seen at Family Planning clinics or by their GP.

Since the publication of the Scottish Government?s sexual health strategy (Respect and Responsibility: Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health), there is greater awareness and subsequently increased testing carried out for STIs. This may account for some of the increase in certain diagnoses e.g. chlamydia.

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Excel Tables and Charts (published August 2010)

The data contained in the tables and charts relate either to patient episodes or to diagnoses given. It is possible for more than one diagnosis to be reported for any single patient episode. Tables/charts which relate to patient episodes are annotated accordingly. The latest data included is for calendar year 2009.

Latest Tables link to a microsoft excel file

Table 1a- Acute STIs by diagnostic group and gender, numbers
Table 1b - Acute STIs by diagnostic group and gender, rate per 100,000 population
Table 2- All diagoses by diagnostic group and gender
Table 3- All STIs by diagnostic group, age group and gender
Table 4a- All diagnoses by diagnostic group, gender and NHS Board of residence, numbers
Table 4b- All diagnoses by diagnostic group, gender and NHS Board of residence, rate per 100,000 population
Table 5 - Location acquired for selected diagnostic groups by gender and NHS Board of treatment
Table 6 - Source of referral for new episodes by clinic of treatment
Table 7 - New episodes by clinic of treatment and NHS Board of residence

Latest Charts link to a microsoft excel file

Chart 1 - New diagnoses of gonorrhoea by age and gender
Chart 2- New diagnoses of chlamydia by age and gender
Chart 3 - New diagnoses of genital herpes by age and gender
Chart 4 - New diagnoses of genital warts by age and gender
Chart 5 - New diagnose of gonorrhoea by gender
Chart 6 - New diagnose of chlamydia by gender
Chart 7 - New diagnose of genital herpes, first attack by gender
Chart 8 - New diagnose of genital warts, first episode by gender