title: Effect of patient age on outcomes and compliance in women with minimally abnormal pap tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess follow-up and histologic outcomes by age for an indigent urban cohort of women with minimally abnormal cytology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of Pap tests was performed (January 2, 2002, to June 30, 2005). Adolescents (age < 21) and women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)/high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) Pap results were studied and followed for outcomes at 2 years. The chi2 test was performed to evaluate differences among groups; statistical significance was established as p < or = 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,266 women were studied--676 adolescents, 1,063 women aged 21-30 years, and 527 women > 30 years of age. Results included 619 ASCUS/ high-risk HPV and 1,647 LSIL results. Compliance was similar across age-groups; 31% never returned for follow-up. CIN2 was detected in 18.8% of adolescents, 21.6% of women aged 21-30, and 15.7% of women > 30 years (p = 0.53). CIN3 was detected in 8.5% of adolescents, 8.1% of women aged 21-30, and 7.7% of women > 30 years (p = 0.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents and women had similar rates of loss to follow-up after having a minimally abnormal Pap test. The likelihood of detecting CIN2-3 was similar regardless of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. cart0281@umn.edu
authors.forename: Jori S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Yael Hoffman
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vragovic
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Stier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology