Baseline Findings from the Anal Cancer Examination (ACE) Study: Screening Using Digital Ano-Rectal Examination in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

Cytological screening for anal cancer precursors is not always possible. We investigated digital ano-rectal examination (DARE) as a means of early anal cancer detection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).

We recruited 327 HIV-positive MSM aged 35 and over from clinics with HIV physicians in Melbourne, Australia, to receive an annual DARE. We analyzed baseline data from patient questionnaires regarding general, anal and sexual health, adverse effects from the anal examination, cancer worry, and quality of life.

The majority of men (82%, 95% CI:78-87) felt relaxed during the DARE, 1% (95% CI:0-3) complained of pain, and 1% (95% CI:0-4) reported bleeding after the examination. Nearly all men (99%, 95% CI:96-100) were willing to continue with an annual DARE. Quality of life was unaffected with utility scores of 0.76 before examination vs. 0.77 two weeks after examination, (p = 0.41). An anal abnormality was detected in 86 men (27%, 95% CI:22-31), with one anal cancer identified. The specialist referral rate following DARE was 5% (95% CI:3-8). Recruitment rates were significantly associated with the clinic setting (sexual health centre 78%, general practice 13%, hospital 14%, p = 0.002) and specialty (sexual health physician 67%, general practitioner 20%, infectious disease physician 14%, p = 0.031).

Annual DARE to detect anal cancer in HIV-positive MSM was acceptable for patients, with minimal side effects. Strategies to increase HIV physician's patient recruitment would be needed if DARE were to be implemented in anal cancer screening.

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By: Ong JJ1, Grulich A2, Walker S3, Hoy J4, Read T3, Bradshaw C5, Garland SM6, Hillman R7, Templeton D2, Hocking J8, Eu B9, Tee BK10, Fairley CK11.

• 1Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Australia j.ong@unimelb.edu.au.
• 2Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia.
• 3Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Australia.
• 4Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Australia.
• 5Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Australia.
• 6Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Australia.
• 7Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Australia.
• 8Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.
• 9Prahran Market Clinic, Melbourne Australia.
• 10The Centre Clinic, Victorian AIDS Council, Melbourne Australia.
• 11Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Australia Central Clinical School, Monash University, Australia.  

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