Purpose
Females living with human immunodeficiency virus (FLWHIV) are at increased risk of cervical cancer and U.S. guidelines, first published in 2009 and updated since then, recommend more frequent screening in this population. We examined screening rates among FLWHIV in the U.S. during 2010–2019.
Methods
This cohort study included 18–89-year-old FLWHIV during 2010–2019 at three U.S. healthcare settings. Sociodemographics, comorbidities, and cervical cancer screening tests were ascertained from administrative and clinical databases. We reported cervical cancer screening rates overall and by modality. Generalized estimating equations with Poisson distribution were used to estimate screening rate ratios (SRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between screening rates and calendar year, age, race and ethnicity, and comorbidity.
Results
Among 3,556 FLWHIV, a total of 7,704 cervical cancer screening tests were received over 18,605 person-years during 2010–2019 (screening rate = 41.4 per 100 person-years). Relatively lower screening rates were associated with later calendar years (SRR = 0.71 [95% CI 0.68–0.75] for 2017–2019 versus 2010–2013), older age (SRR = 0.82 [95% CI 0.74–0.89] for 50–65-year-olds versus 18–29-year-olds), non-Hispanic white race versus non-Hispanic Black race (SRR = 0.89 [95% CI 0.81–0.98]) and greater comorbidity burden (SRR = 0.89 [95% CI 0.82–0.98] for ≥ 9 versus 0–6 comorbidity score).
Conclusion
The decrease in cervical cancer screening rates during 2010–2019 in this large cohort of FLWHIV may be explained at least partly by guideline changes during the study period recommending longer screening intervals. Our findings of relatively lower screening rates in FLWHIV who were non-Hispanic white, older, and with greater comorbidity burden should be confirmed in other U.S. settings.
