title: The prevalence and significance of high-risk human papillomavirus DNA test in southern Malaysia and Singapore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and its associated cytological abnormalities among women attending cervical screening clinics in southern Malaysia and Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory results of Hybrid Capture-II (Digene) HPV DNA and liquid-based cytology tests of consecutive women who had screening performed between January 2004 and December 2006 were studied retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2364 women studied, the overall prevalence of high-risk HPV DNA detection rate was 25.6%. The prevalence peaked at 49.1% for women between 20 and 24 years old and declined to 23% among women between the age of 30 and 49 years. A small second peak of prevalence rate of 30% was observed among women above the age of 50 years old. 76.1% of the high-risk HPV infection regressed within the study period. An incidence infection rate of 16% was noted among a small group of women who had a second HPV DNA test. A total of 1153 women had both the HPV DNA and the cytology tests. Cytological abnormality (ASCUS or more) was detected in 8.9% in HPV DNA-positive group and in 3.1% in HPV DNA-negative group (P < 0.001). The risk ratio for HSIL was 9.8 for HPV-positive women compared to HPV-negative women. The prevalence of cytological abnormalities increased with increasing age of the women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epidemiology and clinical impact of high-risk HPV infection for women in Southern Malaysia and Singapore were indistinguishable from experience elsewhere. The apparent moderately high incidence of cervical cancer was explainable by suboptimal screening program.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. tay.sun.kuie@sgh.com.sg
authors: Sun-Kuie
authors: SK
authors: Tay
authors: Yeng-Kwang
authors: YK
authors: Tay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral