Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Among Women Older than Recommended Age for Vaccination by Birth Cohort, United States 2003-2016

Background. Apparent associations between human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and age observed in cross-sectional studies could be misleading if cohort effects influence HPV detection. Methods. Using data from 2003-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, we evaluated overall and 10-year birth cohort-specific cervicovaginal HPV prevalence estimates (any, high-risk [HR], and non-HR) by 3-year age group among 27 to 59-year-old women born in 1950-1979. Average percent changes (APC) in HPV prevalence by 3-year age were calculated. Results. Overall, prevalence of any HPV declined from 49.9% in 27-29 year olds to 33.8% in 57-59 year olds (APC, -2.82% per 3-year age group; 95% confidence interval [CI], -4.02% to -1.60%) as did prevalence of HR-HPV (APC, -6.19%; 95% CI, -8.09% to -4.26%) and non-HR-HPV (APC, -2.00%; 95% CI, -3.48% to -.51%). By birth cohort, declines by age group were seen in prevalences of any HPV, HR-HPV, and non-HR-HPV for those born in the 1950s and 1970s and in any HPV and HR-HPV for those born in the 1960s (APC range, -14.08% to 0.06%). Conclusions. Declines in HPV prevalence with age in these cross-sectional surveys cannot be explained by birth cohort differences alone, as associations were observed across all birth cohorts.

Automated summary

The prevalence of any HPV, high-risk HPV, and non-high-risk HPV decreases with age in a cohort of women born between 1950 and 1979, indicating that the decline in HPV prevalence cannot be solely attributed to birth cohort differences.