Table 1 Episodes of selected sexually transmitted infections in people aged ⩾45 years in the West Midlands, UK, by diagnostic category, sex and age group: 1996–2003

Variable	Number of episodes*								Rate Ratio (95% CI)†	p Value χ2 for trend
Variable	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	Rate Ratio (95% CI)†	p Value χ2 for trend
Diagnosis
Chlamydia	42	86	57	73	117	164	111	151	3.6 (2.55 to 5.06)	<0.0001
Gonorrhoea	23	57	40	76	124	159	108	152	6.61 (4.26 to 10.25)	<0.0001
Syphilis	0	0	1	1	4	10	11	22	22 (2.97 to 163.2)	<0.0001
Herpes	82	91	98	83	103	122	142	141	1.72 (1.31 to 2.26)	<0.0001
Warts	197	217	231	229	248	304	254	314	1.59 (1.33 to 1.90)	<0.0001
Total	344	451	427	462	596	759	626	780	2.27 (2.00 to 2.57)	<0.0001
Sex
Female	133	175	159	149	175	225	208	246	1.85 (1.50 to 2.28)	<0.0001
Male	211	276	267	311	421	527	417	529	2.51 (2.14 to 2.94)	<0.0001
Age group (years)
45–49	180	192	185	195	249	326	278	381	2.12 (1.77 to 2.53)	<0.0001
50–54	82	134	128	132	179	187	179	208	2.54 (1.96 to 3.27)	<0.0001
55–59	33	55	66	66	80	114	97	105	3.18 (2.15 to 4.70)	<0.0001
60+	49	70	48	69	88	132	72	86	1.76 (1.24 to 2.50)	<0.0001

*Any differences between totals are due to missing information.
†RR: 2003 compared to 1996, or first year where a value was available.