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Abstract #157693

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Fatma Shebl, MD, MS, MHS¹, Katayoun Khosravani, MD, MS², Toumany Coulibaly, MD, MS³, Min Zhan, PhD¹, Pat Langenberg, PhD⁴, Diane M. Dwyer, MD⁵, Carmela Groves, RN MS⁵, Annette Hopkins, RN MS¹, and Eileen K. Steinberger, MD MS¹. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Howard Hall, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 4107676967, fshebl@dhmh.state.md.us, (2) Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, (3) Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, (4) Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, (5) Center for Cancer Surveillance and Control, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Background: Death from cervical cancer is preventable with routine Pap test screening. There is evidence screening may decrease with increasing BMI. Methods: The Maryland Cancer Survey, conducted in 2004, was a population-based telephone survey examining cancer screening rates and risk behaviors. Prevalence of Pap testing in the last 3 years was compared at different levels of BMI (weighted percents). Logistic regression was used to describe the association of BMI with Pap testing, adjusted for possible covariates. Results: Of 1526 women in our sample who were age 40 to 64 years old and without a hysterectomy, 26.2% were obese, 29.9% were overweight, and 43.9% were under/normal weight. 92.3% reported having a Pap smear within the past three years. White and African American women were more likely to have a recent pap (93.1% and 91.5%) than women of other races (84.7%, P value<0.049). Among all women, those who were obese had 2.45 increased odds of NOT having a Pap smear in the last 3 years compared to women who were not obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2). This difference between obese and non-obese, was seen only among white women (OR = 3.57, 95% CI 2.65-4.79), and not among minority women (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.48-2.14). Conclusion: In Maryland, obese white women are less likely to have Pap testing compared to non-obese white women. This difference was not seen among minority women. Efforts are needed to increase routine Pap testing among all women, with emphasis on those who are obese.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the recommendations for Pap smear screening for cervical cancer.
• Assess the prevalence of Pap smear screening in Maryland among women 40-64 years of age.
• Identify possible differences in screening by body mass index and race.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Cancer Screening

Related Web page: www.fha.state.md.us/cancer/html/data.cfm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout