Prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection among women in Xiamen, China

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Cervical cancer is extremely associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and genotype distribution of HPV varies geographic regions. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV and genotype distribution among female populations in Xiamen, Fujian Province, which can be conducive for local government to formulate cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine strategies. Methods: Clinical specimens were collected from 47926 participants aged 16-92 years at Women and Children’s Hospital, Xiamen University from November 2019 to June 2020. HPV DNA was extracted and detected by a conventional PCR method followed by HPV subtype-specific hybridization. The HPV infection rates based on different groups were compared by the c2 test. HPV prevalence and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by SPSS 19.0. Results: The overall HPV prevalence among 47926 cervical swabs analyzed was 15.13%, of which single, double, and multiple infections accounted for 12.07%, 2.25% and 0.81%. The age-specific prevalence of HPV infection presented a “U” curve with an HPV prevalence peak observed in women aged <20. The gynecology clinic group had significant higher HPV positive rates compared with health examination group (P<0.001). The five most common HR-HPV subtypes in Xiamen were HPV52, 53, 58, 16 and 51 (2.69%, 1.74%, 1.63%, 1.23% and 1.05%). The five most common LR-HPV subtypes were HPV54, 61, 81, 70, and 34 (0.92%, 0.86%, 0.71%, 0.45%). Conclusion: This article analyzed the current HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women in Xiamen. Our finding demonstrate that the 9-valent HPV vaccine is recommended for regular immunization in Xiamen. It is necessary for aged women to participate in HPV screening to decrease the morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer.