A whole-population profile of HPV testing as a test of cure for high-grade cervical dysplasia in NSW, Australia.

IntroductionFew population-based studies have been conducted on the efficacy of human papilloma virus (HPV) testing as a test of cure for high grade cervical dysplasia.MethodsA cohort of women (n = 11,521) with high grade (CIN2+) cervical dysplasia diagnosed during 2006–2010, who also had accompanying HPV testing (n = 19,434 HPV tests), was analyzed with respect to National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) follow-up guidelines. Cure rates, and number of follow-up tests and times to reach a cure were estimated.ResultsIn the ≥2-years following high grade dysplasia, 53% of women had a single follow-up HPV test, 33% had two, and 14% had three or more HPV follow-up tests. 75% of women with follow-up HPV and cytology testing according to NHMRC guidelines were cured (2,210 from 2,948). Cure rates were lowest in those aged <30 (71%) and highest in women aged 30–49 (80%). Of those cured, 68% attained cure by the second HPV test, 21% by the third, and 11% at the fourth or later HPV test. The median time ...