The Incidence and Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus-associated Cancers in IBD

We demonstrate that patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher rate of anal and cervical cancers when compared with the general population. We therefore highlight the importance of vaccinating patients with inflammatory bowel disease against human papilloma virus. Aim The human papilloma virus has been associated with anal, cervical, vaginal, and penile cancers. The primary aim of this population-based study is to determine whether HPV-associated cancers are more commonplace in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Method The Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database from 1997 to 2012, linked with officer for age standardized rates (ASR), were calculated using population data, and Cox regression analysis was used to determine whether IBD patients have poorer survival compared with non-IBD patients. Results A total of 61,648 patients were included in this study; of these, 837 patients had a preexisting diagnosis of IBD (1.4%). Inflammatory bowel disease patients had a significantly higher ASR of anal cancers than the non-IBD population: 5.5 per 100,000 in the IBD group compared with 1.8 in the non-IBD group. The IBD group was also diagnosed with anal cancers at a younger age (60 years compared with 66 years in the non-IBD group, P < 0.001). The survival of IBD patients with anal cancer was also poorer than the non-IBD group (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.52; P < 0.001). On average, survival was significantly shorter in the IBD group with anal cancer (46 months) compared with the non-IBD group (61 months, P < 0.001). Age standardized rates for cervical cancer was significantly higher in the IBD group (5.2 of 100,000) compared with the non-IBD group (4.6 of 100,000 P = 0.042). Conclusion Patients with IBD have a higher rate of anal cancer compared with the general population. Survival is also worse for anal cancers in the IBD group.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher rate of anal and cervical cancers compared with the general population. Additionally, survival is poorer for anal cancers in the IBD group.