Prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection among 214,715 women from Southern China, 2012-2018: baseline measures prior to mass HPV vaccination

BackgroundThe epidemiology on the human papillomavirus (HPV) among females in Southern China is not well-established. Baseline data on the prevalence of HPV infection in China prior to mass prophylactic HPV vaccination would be useful. Thus, this study aims to determine the type-specific HPV prevalence and distribution among females from Southern China prior to mass HPV vaccination.MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study employing 214,715 women attending ChenZhou NO.1 People's Hospital for cervical screening during 2012-2018 was conducted prior to widespread HPV vaccination. HPV genotype was detected using nucleic acid molecular diversion hybridization tests. The overall prevalence, age-specific prevalence, type distribution, and annual trend were analyzed.ResultsThe overall HPV prevalence was 18.71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.55-18.88%) among Southern China females. During 2012-2018, the prevalence of HPV infection showed a downward tendency, from 21.63% (95% CI, 21.07-22.20%) in 2012 to 18.75% (95% CI, 18.35-19.16%) in 2018. Age-specific HPV distribution displayed a peak at young women aged less than 21years (33.11, 95% CI, 31.13-35.15%), 20.07% (95% CI, 19.70-20.44%) among women aged 21-30years, 17.29% (95% CI, 17.01-17.57%) among women aged 31-40years, 17.23% (95% CI, 16.95-17.51%) among women aged 41-50years, 21.65% (95% CI, 21.11-22.20%) among women aged 51-60years, and 25.95% (95% CI, 24.86-27.07%) among women aged over 60years. Of the 21 subtypes identified, the top three prevalent high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes were HPV52 (5.12%; 95% CI, 21.11-22.20%), -16 (2.96%; 95% CI, 2.89-3.03%), and-58 (2.51%; 95% CI, 2.44-2.58%); the predominant low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) genotypes were HPV81 (1.86%; 95%CI, 1.80-1.92%) and-6 (0.69%; 95% CI, 0.66-0.73%) respectively. Incidence of HR-HPV only, LR-HPV only and mixed LR- and HR-HPV were 15.17, 2.07 and 1.47% respectively. Besides, single HPV infection accounted for 77.30% of all positive cases in this study.ConclusionsThis study highlights 1) a high prevalence of HPV infection among females with a decreasing tendency towards 2012-2018, especially for young women under the age of 21 prior to mass HPV vaccination; 2) HPV52, -16 and-58 were the predominant HPV genotypes, suggesting potential use of HPV vaccine covering these HPV genotypes in Southern China.

Automated summary

This study found an overall HPV prevalence of 18.71% among females in Southern China from 2012-2018, with varying age-specific prevalence. The top three prevalent high-risk HPV genotypes were HPV52, -16, and -58, suggesting their potential coverage in HPV vaccines for Southern China.