Effect of type of screening laboratory on population-based occurrence of cervical lesions in Finland

Association between loop electrosurgical excision procedure and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

The databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of science were searched from inception to December 27th, 2020. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were utilized to calculate the association between LEEP and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Heterogeneity test was performed for each outcome effect amount. If I² ≥ 50%, the random-effects model was conducted, otherwise, fixed-effects model was performed. Sensitivity analysis was performed on all outcomes. Publication bias was performed by Begg's test.

RESULTS

A total of 30 studies containing 2,475,421 patients were included in this study. The results showed that patients who received the LEEP before pregnancy had a higher risk of preterm delivery (OR: 2.100, 95%CI: 1.762-2.503, p  <  .001), premature rupture of fetal membranes (OR: 1.989, 95%CI: 1.630-2.428, p  <  .001) and low birth weight infants (OR: 1.939, 95%CI: 1.617-2.324, p  <  .001) in comparison with controls. Subgroup analysis further found that prenatal LEEP treatment was associated with the risk of preterm birth subsequently.

CONCLUSION

LEEP treatment before pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm delivery, premature rupture of fetal membranes and low birth weight infants. It is necessary to do a regular prenatal examination and early intervention in a timely manner to reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes after LEEP.

A comparison of the effects of electronic reminders and group bonuses on the recording of diagnoses in primary care: a longitudinal follow-up study

Objective

To improve the recording of diagnoses in visits to general practitioners, an observational retrospective study based on a before-after design was performed by installing an electronic reminder in the computerized patient chart system, reinforced in feedback delivered in superior-subordinate or development discussions with the general practitioners. The monthly rate of recording diagnoses was observed before and after the intervention. The effect of this intervention on recording of diagnoses was compared with the effects of financial group bonuses on the same parameter in a neighbouring city.

Results

Before intervention, the level of recording diagnoses was about 45% in the primary care units. Nine months after this intervention there was not yet any statistically significant increase in recording of diagnoses but after 21 months it yielded a recording rate of 90% (P < 0.001). In three years, this percentage reached level over 95%. Group bonuses, a financial incentive serving as a control intervention, increased this parameter from 50 to 80% (P < 0.001) in nine months, and in 21 months the level of recording diagnoses was 90%. The both methods increased the level of recording diagnoses at the same level. Group bonuses acted faster but were also more expensive.

Risk of preterm birth in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade one: a population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

In this population-based register study our objective was to explore the association of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 and loop electrosurcigal excision procedure with preterm birth.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our population consisted of 4759 women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 during 1997-2009 and their 3021 subsequent deliveries analyzed by loop electrosurcigal excision procedure and parity. Hospital Discharge Register was used to identify women diagnosed for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 and these data were linked with the Medical Birth Register data. We calculated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 patients with loop electrosurcigal excision procedure had 54 (6.7%) subsequent preterm births and the corresponding figure among cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 patients without loop electrosurcigal excision procedure was 116 (5.2%). This results in odds ratios 1.31 (95% confidence interval 0.94-1.83). We assessed the risk before and after diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 both for patients with loop electrosurcigal excision procedure (odds ratios 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.05-2.06) and without loop electrosurcigal excision procedure (odds ratios 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.71-1.13). An increased risk for preterm birth after diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 and loop electrosurcigal excision procedure was observed. We also compared both groups to the background population in the Medical Birth Register. For cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 patients without loop electrosurcigal excision procedure the risk for preterm birth was not increased (odds ratios 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.76-1.21) whereas for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 patients treated with loop electrosurcigal excision procedure the risk for preterm birth was increased (odds ratios 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Loop electrosurcigal excision procedure itself increases the risk for preterm birth. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1 as such does not increase the risk for preterm birth.

Age-related incidence of cervical cancer supports two aetiological components: a population-based register study

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether age-related incidence of cervical cancer supports two aetiological components and to assess trends in these components due to risk factors and to organised screening in Finland.

DESIGN

Population-based register study.

SETTING

Finnish Cancer Registry.

POPULATION

Cervical cancer cases and female population in Finland in 1953-2012.

METHODS

Cervical cancer incidence was estimated using Poisson regression where age-specific incidence consists of two (early-age and late-age) normally distributed components.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Accumulated net risks (incidences) and numbers of cancer cases attributed to each age-related component by calendar time.

RESULTS

The accumulated cervical cancer incidence in 2008-2012 was only 30% of that in 1953-1962, before the screening started. The fit of the observed age-specific rates and the rates based on the two-component model was good. In 1953-62, the accumulated net risk ratio (RR; early-age versus late-age) was 0.42 (95% CI 0.29-0.61). The early-age component disappeared in 1973-77 (RR 0.00; 95% CI 0.00-0.08). Thereafter, the risk for the early-age component increased, whereas the risk for the late-age component decreased, and in 2008-2012 the RR was 0.55 (95% CI 0.24-0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

In Finland, cervical cancer incidence has two age-related components which are likely to indicate differences in risk factors of each component. The trend in risk of both components followed the effects of organised screening. Furthermore, the risk related to the early-age component followed changes in risk factors, such as oncogenic HPV infections and other sexually transmitted diseases and smoking habits.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer incidence has two age-related components which are likely to have differencies in their aetiology.

The challenges of organising cervical screening programmes in the 15 old member states of the European Union

Cervical cancer incidence and mortality can be reduced substantially by organised cytological screening at 3 to 5 year intervals, as was demonstrated in the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and parts of Italy. Opportunistic screening, often proposed at yearly schedules, has also reduced the burden of cervical cancer in some, but not all, of the other old member states (belonging to the European Union since 1995) but at a cost that is several times greater. Well organised screening programmes have the potential to achieve greater participation of the target population at regular intervals, equity of access and high quality. Despite the consistent evidence that organised screening is more efficient than non-organised screening, and in spite of the Cancer Screening Recommendations of the European Council, health authorities of eight old member states (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain) have not yet started national organised implementation of screening for cervical cancer. A decision was made by the Irish government to extend their pilot programme nationally while new regional programmes commenced in Portugal and Spain. Introduction of new methods of prevention, such as HPV screening and prophylactic HPV vaccination, can reduce the burden further, but this will require a high level of organisation with particular attention needed for the maximisation of population coverage, compliance with evidence-based guidelines, monitoring of data enabling continued evaluation and improvement of the preventive programmes.

Significant variation in performance does not reflect the effectiveness of the cervical cancer screening programme in Finland

AIM

To characterise the variation in performance indicators of the Finnish cervical screening programme by screening laboratory and to assess whether the performance affects cervical cancer incidence.

METHODS

Cervical cancer screening data from 1999 to 2003 from six well-established laboratories were used to analyse rates for follow-up recommendations, referrals and histologically confirmed dysplastic lesions. Laboratory-specific cervical cancer incidences for 1954-2003 were assessed using the cancer registry files.

RESULTS

Differences in follow-up recommendations were up to 3.1-fold and 2.2-fold in referrals; differences in the rates for CIN1, CIN2 and CIN3+ were up to 4.5-, 4.7-, and 1.5-fold, respectively. Pre-screening incidence rates for cervical cancer varied 1.5-fold by laboratory, with no major differences in the incidence trends since the onset of screening.

CONCLUSION

The performance of a cervical screening programme differs by screening laboratory but does not materially affect the overall programme effectiveness. This leads to variation in cost-effectiveness and probably in avoidable adverse effects. In cervical cancer screening studies, the outcome should be selected as closely as possible to the true measure of programme effectiveness, prevented invasive cervical cancers and subsequent deaths.

Predicting the future burden of cancer

As observations in the past do not necessarily hold into the future, predicting future cancer occurrence is fraught with uncertainty. Nevertheless, predictions can aid health planners in allocating resources and allow scientists to explore the consequence of interventions aimed at reducing the impact of cancer. Simple statistical models have been refined over the past few decades and often provide reasonable predictions when applied to recent trends. Intrinsic to their interpretation, however, is an understanding of the forces that drive time trends. We explain how and why cancer predictions are made, with examples to illustrate the concepts in practice.

Trends in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Incidence in 13 European Countries: Changing Risk and the Effects of Screening

Despite there being sufficient evidence for the effectiveness of screening by cytology in preventing cancer of the cervix uteri, screening policies vary widely among European countries, and incidence is increasing in younger women. This study analyzes trends in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix uteri in 13 European countries to evaluate effectiveness of screening against a background of changing risk. Age-period-cohort models were fitted and period and cohort effects were estimated; these were considered as primarily indicative of screening interventions and changing etiology, respectively. A unique set of estimates was derived by fixing age slopes to one of several plausible age curves under the assumption that the relation between age and cervical cancer incidence is biologically determined. There were period-specific declines in cervical SCC in several countries, with the largest decreases seen in northern Europe. A pattern emerged across Europe of escalating risk in successive generations born after 1930. In the western European countries, a decrease followed by a stabilization of risk by cohort was accompanied by period-specific declines. In southern Europe, stable period, but increasing cohort trends, were observed. Substantial changes have occurred in cervical SCC incidence in Europe and well-organized screening programs have been highly effective in reducing the incidence of cervical SCC. Screening and changing sexual mores largely explain the changing period- and cohort-specific patterns, respectively. The increasing risk in recent cohorts is of obvious concern particularly in countries where no screening programs are in place. Further investigation of the effectiveness of opportunistic screening is warranted as is the observation of differing risk patterns in young cohorts in countries with relatively similar societal structures.