Table 1

Association between HIV infection and HSV-2 infection in 100 simulated cross-sectional observational studies, assuming no HIV/HSV-2 biological interaction

				Studies	Sample size	Crude OR	Adjusted OR	Pooled OR across all simulations*
				N	n†	Range	Range	Mean (95% CI)
Baseline scenario‡		Crude OR (95% CI)		100	1755	1.38–9.93		6.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.34–8.78	5.45 (4.90 to 6.06)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.29–7.34	3.70 (3.32 to 4.12)
			For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.23–6.96	3.54 (3.17 to 3.94)
			For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	0.27–10.91	4.93 (4.41 to 5.52)
Under-reporting§	50% under-reporting	Crude OR (95% CI)		100	1755	1.38–9.93		6.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.43–8.80	5.58 (5.02 to 6.21)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.14–8.10	4.39 (3.94 to 4.88)
			For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.23–7.42	4.06 (3.65 to 4.53)
			For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	0.27–11.12	5.59 (5.00 to 6.26)
	25% under- reporting	Crude OR (95% CI)		100	1755	1.38–9.93		6.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.24–8.93	5.57 (5.01 to 6.19)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.31–8.13	4.46 (4.01 to 4.97)
			For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.24–7.58	4.13 (3.71 to 4.60)
			For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	0.27–11.79	5.71 (5.10 to 6.38)
	10% under- reporting	Crude OR (95% CI)		100	1755	1.38–9.93		6.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.28–8.82	5.56 (5.00 to 6.18)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.06–7.72	4.47 (4.01 to 4.97)
			For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	1.00–7.75	4.14 (3.72 to 4.62)
			For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1755	1.38–9.93	0.26–11.33	5.75 (5.14 to 6.43)
Miscapture¶	50% miscapture	Crude OR (95% CI)		100	877	0.00–23.02		4.84 (4.23 to 5.54)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	877	0.00–23.02	0.00–24.37	4.41 (3.85 to 5.06)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	877	0.00–23.02	0.00–17.25	2.98 (2.58 to 3.44)
			For numbers of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	877	0.00–23.02	0.00–18.12	2.98 (2.58 to 3.43)
			For age, marriage and the numbers of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	877	0.00–23.02	0.00–25.44	3.57 (3.06 to 4.16)
	25% miscapture	Crude OR (95% CI)		100	1316	0.00–13.21		4.31 (3.84 to 4.84)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	1316	0.00–13.21	0.00–14.24	3.97 (3.54 to 4.46)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	1316	0.00–13.21	0.00–13.55	2.60 (2.30 to 2.94)
			For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1316	0.00–13.21	0.00–13.89	2.59 (2.29 to 2.92)
			For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1316	0.00–13.21	0.00–19.91	3.17 (2.80 to 3.59)
	10% miscapture	Crude OR (95% CI)		100	1579	1.44–9.22		4.71 (4.22 to 5.25)
		Adjusted OR (95% CI)	For number of sexual partners over the last year	100	1579	1.44–9.22	1.37–10.26	4.29 (3.85 to 4.79)
			For number of lifetime sexual partners	100	1579	1.44–9.22	0.23–8.02	2.68 (2.39 to 3.01)
			For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1579	1.44–9.22	0.23–8.12	2.66 (2.37 to 2.98)
			For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime	100	1579	1.44–9.22	0.14–9.16	3.43 (3.05 to 3.86)

*Meta-analyses were conducted using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model.
†Average sample size of each cross-sectional observational study.
‡Sample was drawn randomly from the simulated population.
§Sample was drawn randomly from the simulated population, but after assuming under-reporting of the number of sexual partners over the last year.
¶Sample was drawn randomly from the simulated population, but after excluding individuals with the largest number of sexual partners.
HSV-2, herpes simplex virus type 2.