Chlamydia trachomatis epidemiology in Canadians of Chinese ethnicity: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the rates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection between those of Chinese ethnicity and non-Chinese ethnicity in a large Canadian urban setting.

METHODS

We examined rates of Chlamydia among residents of Vancouver and Richmond, Canada, by Chinese and non-Chinese ethnicity, from 2006 to 2010. We stratified cases by age group, sex and ethnicity. We analyzed 12,555 cases of Chlamydia from 2006 to 2010.

RESULTS

The overall rate of Chlamydia was 276 per 100,000 per year. Chlamydia rates were 236 per 100,000 among those of Chinese ethnicity and 338 per 100,000 among non-Chinese. While overall rates among individuals of Chinese ethnicity were lower, rates among older Chinese women were significantly higher than among their non-Chinese counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians serving patients of Chinese ethnicity should be aware that rates among Chinese-Canadians are substantial, with rates among older women higher than among non-Chinese women, and they should consider this when screening for sexually transmitted infections in this population. Further research is needed to elucidate why this is the case.