Background: HPV testing has been implemented in many organised cervix screening programs; however, understanding how this screening methodology impacts rates of colposcopy and further follow-up procedures remains underexplored, especially amongst women with HIV. In the absence of HPV screening program data in BC, Canada, we sought to determine HPV prevalence and estimates for colposcopies among a cohort of women with HIV using the BC Cervix Screening algorithm. Setting: HPV data was collected and analysed from a prospective HPV vaccine immunogenicity cohort study of women with HIV from 14 sites of HIV care across Canada from 2008-2015. Methods: HPV data was obtained during the screening (month -3), baseline (month 0), month 12, and month 24 time points (Linear Array assay). Participant demographic and clinical characteristics (CD4+ count, HIV viral load, etc.) were assessed to determine associations between HPV prevalence and estimates for colposcopy using rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Overall, 47.2% of participants had oncogenic HPV detected at screening which would result in a colposcopy referral. 15.9% of participants had oncogenic HPV detected at screening, month 12, and month 24 time points, which would result in three consecutive referrals to colposcopy. Participants with repeat oncogenic HPV detected were less likely to have a suppressed HIV viral load compared to participants without oncogenic HPV detected. Conclusion: Our results suggest that HPV testing will result in a high proportion of referrals to colposcopy and follow-up procedures among women with HIV which will require preparation and planning. Further work is needed to provide the appropriate support and education for women with HIV when incorporating HPV testing into cervix screening programs.
Nicolls et al. (Fri,) studied this question.