OBJECTIVES : To estimate prevalence and incidence of genital warts (GW) in physician practices, as well as describe physicians’ GW referral practices and GW-related healthcare costs in Colombia.

METHODS : Participants were a convenience sample of 53 physicians in 5 specialties: primary care (15), gynecology (24), urology (12), proctology (1), and dermatology (1). Physicians completed a survey recording GW consultation and management patterns and a daily log of all patients (N=6407) ages 18-60 years seen over 10 days between September 2016 - April 2017 in their practices. Prevalence was defined as number of all GW cases (new, existing, recurrent) divided by number of all patients seen in 10 days. Incidence was defined as the number of new GW cases, defined as no GW episode in the prior 12 months, divided by number of all patients without existing GW.

RESULTS : GW prevalence was similar in males (2.03%; 95% CI: 1.39-2.87) and females (1.95%; 95% CI: 1.58-2.38), and highest among 18-24 year olds in both males (5.46%; 95% CI: 2.65-9.82) and females (2.91%; 95% CI: 1.83-4.37). GW incidence was also similar in males (1.21%; 95% CI: 0.72-1.9) and females (1.15%; 95% CI: 0.87-1.49), and highest among 18-24 year olds for both males (3.47%; 95% CI: 1.28-7.40) and females (1.90%; 95% CI: 1.05-3.18). Primary care physicians referred >80% of cases to specialists, with primary reason as “serious cases requiring more specialized treatment” followed by “time associated with the treatment”. Mean (SD) cost per episode of care was USD 302.63 (251.41) for non-resistant GW and USD 350.39 (307.01) for resistant GW.

CONCLUSIONS : GW diagnosis and treatment burden the Colombian health care system, particularly with respect to specialist utilization and cost of care.