Comprehensive Molecular Epidemiology of HPV in a High-Volume Tertiary Center

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus and the leading cause of cervical cancer. More than 230 genotypes have been identified and classified as high-risk (HR) or low-risk (LR) based on their oncogenic potential. Despite the availability of prophylactic vaccines against major HR-HPV types, regional genotype variations and limited public awareness remain major barriers to cervical cancer prevention. This study aimed to retrospectively assess HPV positivity, genotype distribution, and treatment outcomes among women attending a tertiary care center.

Cervical swab samples from women aged 18 years and older, collected between January 2023 and December 2024, were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection and genotyping of HPV DNA. Human papillomavirus positivity was defined as the detection of HPV16, HPV18, or other HR-HPV (OHR-HPV) types. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from the hospital information system. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and linear regression, performed using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Of 7009 samples analyzed, 11.30% (792/7009) were HPV positive: OHR-HPV (66.79% [529/792]), HPV16 (15.28% [121/792]), and HPV18 (5.81% [46/792]). The mean age of HPV-positive patients was 38.59 years. Positivity was highest in the 18-19 age group (33.33% [6/18]) and declined significantly with age (p<0.05). A downward trend in monthly HPV positivity was observed during the study period (p<0.0496). Among treated patients, 86.36% (57/66) showed viral clearance after a mean follow-up of 330 days. HPV positivity was detected in 12.73% (28/220) of pregnant women.

This study provides comprehensive epidemiological data on HPV genotype distribution, age-related trends, and post-treatment outcomes in a tertiary care center. The high prevalence of non-vaccine-covered HR-HPV types underscores the need to expand vaccination strategies and enhance public health interventions.