Healey Sylvia M, Aronson KristanJ, Mao Yang, Franco Eduardo L
Health Protection Unit, Department of Health, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada.
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004;63 Suppl 2:199-201. doi: 10.3402/ijch.v63i0.17901.
To determine the prevalence of oncogenic human papillomavirus' (HPV) in Nunavut and to assess the association between HPV and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) as a prelude to planning a better screening strategy.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on the Pap-screened populations in 19 communities in Nunavut, Canada. SIL was determined using Liquid-based cytology, and HPV testing was done using the Hybrid Capture II assay.
Prevalence of oncogenic HPVs in 1,290 women ages 13-79 was 26% and of Cervical Dysplasia was 7.2%. Over 90% of women with SIL had positive HPV tests. Over 75% of women who were HPV positive but SIL negative were under 30 years of age.
Consideration should be given to using liquid-based cytology for Pap testing. Also consider concurrent HPV testing in those over 30 years old and reflex testing of HPV in those under 30 years old with a positive HPV test.
