Abstract
More than 18 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are associated with cervical cancer, the relative importance of the HPV types may vary in different populations.
Objective: To investigate the types of HPV, age distribution, and risk factors for HPV infection in women from Santiago, Chile.
Methods: We interviewed and obtained two cervical specimens from a population-based random sample of 1,038 sexually active women (age range, 15-69 years). Specimens were tested for the presence of HPV DNA using a GP5+/6+ primer-mediated PCR and for cervical cytologic abnormalities by Papanicolaou smears.
Results: 122 women tested positive for HPV DNA, 87 with high risk types (HR), and 35 with low risks (LR) only. Standardized prevalence of HPV DNA was 14.0% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 11.5-16.4]. HR HPV by age showed a J reverse curve, whereas LR HPV showed a U curve, both statistically significant in comparison with no effect or with a linear effect. We found 34 HPV types (13 HR and 21 LR); HPV 16, 56, 31, 58, 59, 18, and 52 accounted for 75.4% of HR infections. Thirty-four (3.6%) women had cytologic lesions. Main risk factor for HPV and for cytologic abnormalities was number of lifetime sexual partners, odds ratios for ≥3 versus 1 were 2.8 (95% CI, 1.6-5.0) and 3.8 (95% CI, 1.3-11.4), respectively.
Conclusions: LR HPV presented a clear bimodal age pattern; HR HPV presented a J reverse curve. HPV prevalence was similar to that described in most Latin American countries.
- Human papillomavirus
- Population-based
- Prevalence
- Age curve
- Cytological cervical dysplasia
- Risk factors
- Nonparametric analysis
- Epidemiological study
Footnotes
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Grant support: Non-Communicable Disease Program, PAHO; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention grant; and Unit of Field and Interventions Studies, IARC.
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The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
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Note: "Prvevalence and Risk Factors of HPV and Cytological Cervical Dysplasia among Women in Santiago, Chile". C. XVII FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Abstract; FC4.19.6 Nov 2-7, 2003 Santiago Chile.
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Written informed consent obtained from patients; study protocols were approved by the IARC Ethical Review Committee and the Hospital Sótero del Rio Human Research Committee.
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Conflict of interest: The authors do not have a commercial or other association that might pose a conflict of interest.
Volume 13, Issue 12
