Prevalence OF HPV IN a Peruvian Healthcare Network: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Oncology

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection linked to cancer development.
• Estimating HPV prevalence is crucial for public health strategies and cancer prevention efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of HPV infection among women within the AUNA healthcare network in Peru.
• To identify the most common HPV types and their distribution across different regions and age groups in Peru.

Main Methods:

• An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted.
• Data from 68,714 HPV-positive women who underwent the BD Onclarity™ HPV Assay between December 2018 and December 2021 were analyzed.
• Prevalence, HPV types (individually and pooled), and co-infections were assessed by age and city.

Main Results:

• Overall HPV prevalence was 14.21%, with Piura showing the highest prevalence (16.85%) and Arequipa the lowest (13.58%).
• HPV-51, HPV-52, and pooled types P1, P2, and P3 were most common in Piura, while HPV-16 was most prevalent in Arequipa.
• Multiple HPV infections occurred in 2.88% of women, with HPV-P2 and HPV-52 being frequent co-occurrences. The 31-35 age group had the highest prevalence.

Conclusions:

• HPV prevalence in the studied Peruvian population is significant, with regional variations.
• Specific HPV types (HPV-16, -52, and pooled P2) and age groups (31-35 years) are key indicators for targeted screening and prevention.