RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify epidemiological correlates for persistence and clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical smears collected in a prospective cohort study to perform Papanicoloau cytology and HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection at baseline and during the follow-up. Outcomes analyzed were: (1) persistence of HPV DNA; (2) conversion; and (3) clearance of HPV. RESULTS: Among 501 women the incidence of HPV was 12.3%. Thirty-four women were persistently infected with HPV, which was associated with age below 21 years at first intercourse and 4 or more sexual partners during their lifetime. In a median of 19 months, 80.7% of women had clearance of HPV, which was associated with black race, coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis at baseline, and a history of previous Papanicoloau smear. CONCLUSION: Strategies for sexual orientation may modify the rates of HPV persistence. The association of HPV clearance with a history of previous Papanicolaou smear screening highlights the importance of improving cervical screening programs. Further studies on the association of gynecological infections with HPV clearance are needed.

Assuntos

Papillomaviridae/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Papillomavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Papillomavirus/epidemiologia , Lesões Pré-Cancerosas/virologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/virologia , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolamento & purificação , Doença Crônica , Sondas de DNA de HPV , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Modelos Logísticos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Teste de Papanicolaou , Papillomaviridae/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Lesões Pré-Cancerosas/epidemiologia , Lesões Pré-Cancerosas/patologia , Prognóstico , Medição de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Esfregaço Vaginal , Adulto Jovem , Displasia do Colo do Útero/epidemiologia , Displasia do Colo do Útero/patologia