Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Patterns Among Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective. Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are vulnerable to cervical dysplasia due to the persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The objective of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of cervical cancer screening according to the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) SLE-specific cervical cancer screening guidelines. We also aimed to identify SLE-specific determinants associated with ASCCP adherence. Methods. Women aged 21 to 64 years enrolled in our institutional SLE registry were included in the study. The electronic medical record was manually reviewed to determine whether the patient was up to date on screening and which organizational guideline was used, in addition to other clinical variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for ASCCP-congruent screening for each baseline characteristic. Results. This study included 118 women with SLE; 38% were up to date per ASCCP guidelines, 16% were up to date per non-ASCCP guidelines, and 46% were overdue for screening. Having a gynecologist and being actively treated with immunosuppressant therapies were both associated with an increased odds of being up to date per the ASCCP guidelines, while Hispanic ethnicity was associated with reduced odds. Conclusion. Only half of the women with SLE in our study had guideline-congruent cervical cancer screening. Current immunosuppression exposure, rather than SLE disease activity, was associated with an increased odds of being up to date according to ASCCP guidelines. This study suggests the need for increased awareness and consensus among interdisciplinary providers regarding SLE-specific cervical cancer screening.

Automated summary

Women with SLE are at high risk for cervical dysplasia, and this study investigated the prevalence of cervical cancer screening according to ASCCP guidelines in this population. The study found that only half of the women with SLE had guideline-congruent screening, highlighting the need for increased awareness and consensus among providers regarding SLE-specific cervical cancer screening.