Abstract
BackgroundTo enable incremental optimization of screening, regular reporting of quality indicators is required.AimTo report key quality indicators and basic statistics about cervical screening in Sweden.MethodsWe collected individual level data on all cervical cytologies, histopathologies, human papillomavirus tests and all invitations for cervical screening in Sweden during 2013–2016.ResultsThere were over 2,278,000 cervical samples collected in Sweden in 2014–2016. Organized samples (resulting from an invitation) constituted 69% of samples. The screening test coverage of all resident women aged 23–60 was 82%. The coverage has slowly increased for >10 years. There is large variability between counties (from 71% to 92%) over time. There were 25,725 women with high-grade lesions in cytology during 2013–2015. Only 96% of these women had a follow-up histopathology within a year. Cervical cancer incidence showed an increasing trend.ConclusionKey quality indicators such as population coverage and follow-up rates were stable or improving, but there was nevertheless an unexplained cervical cancer increase.
Highlights
Cervical screening is a globally recommended public health policy, which is in place in most European countries but in varied formats [1]
96% of these women had a follow-up histopathology within a year
The Danish national cervical cancer screening registry published how the registry is used for follow-up and research as well as the results of nine key quality indicators [2]
Summary
Cervical screening is a globally recommended public health policy, which is in place in most European countries but in varied formats [1]. Even though most EU countries have cervical screening registries and quality assurance programs in place, the registries and the results of their work is commonly not available in the English language [1]. The Danish national cervical cancer screening registry published how the registry is used for follow-up and research as well as the results of nine key quality indicators [2]. The Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry (NKCx) monitors and evaluates the extent, quality and effect of screening, based on reports of all screening invitations, cervical cytologies, histopathologies, and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests in the country. Key quality indicators (e.g. population test coverage, diagnostic profiles, population coverage of invitations, and proportion of women with abnormal tests that are followed up) and basic statistics are reported back to the organized cervical screening programs in each region [3]. To enable incremental optimization of screening, regular reporting of quality indicators is required
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