Delayed colposcopy outcomes and risk factors at a tertiary center in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: We aimed to assess the impact of colposcopies being delayed because of the pandemic and determine whether any causes of lagging at the time of colposcopy for abnormal cytology or human papilloma virus (HPV) positive cases. Methods: This is a retrospectice cohort study. Delayed colposcopy due to COVID-19 pandemic was performed to a total number of 158 patients and are analysed for the following informations; age of diagnosis, smoking status, age at first coitus, oral contraceptive use, number of sexual partner, menopausal status, colposcopy delayed duration (from the date of the HPV-cytology result to the colposcopy date), cytology, HPV status, colposcopic findings and pathologic results. Results: There were significances between smoking status/colposcopic biopsy results and HPV status/colposcopic biopsy results. We also investigated the correlation between the length of the duration (latency) and the other parameters such as HPV status, colposcopic results (histopathological results) and colposcopic highest lesions. According to statistical analysis, there was no relationship between the length of duration and colposcopic histopathological results. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had affected healthcare systems all around the world. It had changed the treatment and control durations of the diseases for a period. Smoking status has a great role for the progression into high grade lesions in HPV positive cases. On the other hand, latency up to 6 months does not affect the progression to a high grade lesion so this is important in follow-up duration.

COVID-19 pandemic; Delayed colposcopy; HPV status

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