Incidence of Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in HIV-Infected Women

CONTEXT Women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk for cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs), the precursors to invasive cervical cancer. However, little is known about the causes of this association. OBJECTIVES To compare the incidence of SILs in HIV-infected vs uninfected women and to determine the role of risk factors in the pathogenesis of such lesions. DESIGN Prospective cohort study conducted from October 1, 1991, to June 30, 1996. SETTING Urban clinics for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and methadone maintenance. PARTICIPANTS A total of 328 HIV-infected and 325 uninfected women with no evidence of SILs by Papanicolaou test or colposcopy at study entry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Incident SILs confirmed by biopsy, compared by HIV status and risk factors. RESULTS During about 30 months of follow-up, 67 (20%) HIV-infected and 16 (5%) uninfected women developed a SIL (incidence of 8.3 and 1.8 cases per 100 person-years in sociodemographically similar infected and uninfected women, respectively [P