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Is human herpesvirus 8 infection more common in men than in women? an updated meta-analysis

Haibo Gong1, Shuai Zhang2, Jinfa Dou2

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital; People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, China. gonghaibo2019@163.com.

BMC Infectious Diseases
|April 29, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Men show a slightly higher risk of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection compared to women, particularly in adult populations globally and in Sub-Saharan Africa. This gender disparity in HHV-8 infection was not observed in children.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) predominantly affects males.
  • Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), is the primary cause of KS.
  • Investigating gender-based susceptibility to HHV-8 infection is crucial for understanding KS epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between gender and HHV-8 seropositivity in the general population.
  • To determine if men exhibit a higher susceptibility to HHV-8 infection compared to women.
  • To analyze gender differences in HHV-8 infection across different age groups and geographical regions.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted.
  • Searched six major online databases for relevant studies published before March 15, 2023.
  • Included 33 articles comprising 41 studies for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Adult men globally have a slightly higher risk of HHV-8 infection than women (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15).
  • Significant gender difference observed in Sub-Saharan Africa adult populations (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.26).
  • No significant gender differences in HHV-8 infection were found in child populations globally or in Sub-Saharan Africa, nor in Asian, European, or American adult populations.

Conclusions:

  • A slight gender disparity exists for HHV-8 infection in adult populations.
  • Men are more likely to be infected with HHV-8 than women globally and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Further standardized studies are recommended to strengthen these findings on gender and HHV-8 infection.
Keywords:
Human Herpesvirus 8Kaposi's sarcomaSeroprevalence

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