Cervical HPV infection in Guangzhou, China: an epidemiological study of 198,111 women from 2015 to 2021

Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the pivotal cause of cervical carcinogenesis. HPV types distribution varies greatly by region, and its long-term changes of prevalence remain to be fully characterized in China. Here, the largest population of 198,111 consecutive women who underwent routine cervical screening were investigated from 2015 to 2021 in Guangzhou, south China. The results showed that the overall HPV prevalence was 21.66% (42,911/198,111), and the annual prevalence increased significantly from 2015 to 2021 (p < 0.001). HPV52, 16, 58, CP8304, 51, 53, 39, and 68 were the most prevalent HPV types. The relative HPV-positive rate correlated positively with the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p < 0.001); HPV16 was the predominant carcinogenic type, followed by HPV52 and HPV18. HPV infections were significantly age-specific, and 26.51% (11,375/42,911) of cases were caused by multiple HPV types. In addition, HPV infections typically cleared over a median time of 16 (interquartile range 9-31) months, and the clearance of HPV16 was significantly faster than that of other types (p < 0.001). These findings may serve as a guide for local governments to evaluate HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention strategies in south China.

Automated summary

This study investigated the long-term changes of HPV prevalence in Guangzhou, China from 2015 to 2021. The overall prevalence of HPV was 21.66% and showed a significant increase over the years. HPV52, 16, 58, CP8304, 51, 53, 39, and 68 were the most common types. HPV infections were associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and were age-specific. Multiple HPV types were found in 26.51% of cases. HPV infections typically cleared within 16 months, with HPV16 clearing faster than other types. These findings provide important information for evaluating HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention strategies in south China.