HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among 38 056 women in Weifang, China: a cross-sectional study

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely associated with cervical cancer, especially the persistent infection of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes. Therefore, investigating the HPV prevalence, age-specific, genotype distribution and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among large populations was essential for HPV screening and optimising vaccination.

This was a cross-sectional study.

A total of 38 056 cervical epithelial cell specimens were collected in Weifang city from January 2018 to December 2022. The study was divided into seven age groups based on the age of the participants. HPV genotype testing was performed by using a commercial kit which is designed for the detection of 23 HPV genotypes.

A total of 8998 women were infected with HPV, with an overall positive rate of 23.64% (8998/38 056). Single infection of HPV was dominant among different age groups, which accounted for 71.33% of total infections. The most prevalent genotype was HR-HPV 16 (4.33%), followed by 52, 58, 53 and 68. Low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) 42 exhibited the highest prevalence (2.19%) among six LR-HPV genotypes, representing a novel finding. There was a significant difference in the prevalence across different age groups (p<0.01), with the highest prevalence in the group under 25 years old. During the 3 year COVID-19 breakout period, the number of HPV samples received in 2020, 2021 and 2022 was reduced by 24.03%, 14.79% and 24.76%, respectively. In 2018-2022, the annual prevalence varied between 21.09% and 25.30%, with a decreasing trend, while the prevalence of HR-HPV 39, 56, 31 and LR-HPV 42 increased.

This study indicates a high-HPV infection rate and age-specific distribution characteristics of HPV genotype infections, as well as analyses of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the HPV prevalence, which provides an epidemiological basis for the control and prevention of HPV infection in this region.