Table 1

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

StudiesSample sizeCrude ORAdjusted ORPooled OR across all simulations*
Nn†RangeRangeMean (95% CI)
Baseline scenario‡Crude OR (95% CI)10017551.38–9.936.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year10017551.38–9.931.34–8.785.45 (4.90 to 6.06)
For number of lifetime sexual partners10017551.38–9.931.29–7.343.70 (3.32 to 4.12)
For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.931.23–6.963.54 (3.17 to 3.94)
For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.930.27–10.914.93 (4.41 to 5.52)
Under-reporting§50% under-reportingCrude OR (95% CI)10017551.38–9.936.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year10017551.38–9.931.43–8.805.58 (5.02 to 6.21)
For number of lifetime sexual partners10017551.38–9.931.14–8.104.39 (3.94 to 4.88)
For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.931.23–7.424.06 (3.65 to 4.53)
For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.930.27–11.125.59 (5.00 to 6.26)
25% under- reportingCrude OR (95% CI)10017551.38–9.936.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year10017551.38–9.931.24–8.935.57 (5.01 to 6.19)
For number of lifetime sexual partners10017551.38–9.931.31–8.134.46 (4.01 to 4.97)
For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.931.24–7.584.13 (3.71 to 4.60)
For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.930.27–11.795.71 (5.10 to 6.38)
10% under- reportingCrude OR (95% CI)10017551.38–9.936.45 (5.81 to 7.17)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year10017551.38–9.931.28–8.825.56 (5.00 to 6.18)
For number of lifetime sexual partners10017551.38–9.931.06–7.724.47 (4.01 to 4.97)
For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.931.00–7.754.14 (3.72 to 4.62)
For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10017551.38–9.930.26–11.335.75 (5.14 to 6.43)
Miscapture¶50% miscaptureCrude OR (95% CI)1008770.00–23.024.84 (4.23 to 5.54)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year1008770.00–23.020.00–24.374.41 (3.85 to 5.06)
For number of lifetime sexual partners1008770.00–23.020.00–17.252.98 (2.58 to 3.44)
For numbers of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime1008770.00–23.020.00–18.122.98 (2.58 to 3.43)
For age, marriage and the numbers of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime1008770.00–23.020.00–25.443.57 (3.06 to 4.16)
25% miscaptureCrude OR (95% CI)10013160.00–13.214.31 (3.84 to 4.84)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year10013160.00–13.210.00–14.243.97 (3.54 to 4.46)
For number of lifetime sexual partners10013160.00–13.210.00–13.552.60 (2.30 to 2.94)
For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10013160.00–13.210.00–13.892.59 (2.29 to 2.92)
For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10013160.00–13.210.00–19.913.17 (2.80 to 3.59)
10% miscaptureCrude OR (95% CI)10015791.44–9.224.71 (4.22 to 5.25)
Adjusted OR (95% CI)For number of sexual partners over the last year10015791.44–9.221.37–10.264.29 (3.85 to 4.79)
For number of lifetime sexual partners10015791.44–9.220.23–8.022.68 (2.39 to 3.01)
For number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10015791.44–9.220.23–8.122.66 (2.37 to 2.98)
For age, marriage and the number of sexual partners over the last year and lifetime10015791.44–9.220.14–9.163.43 (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.