Abstract
In light of the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention strategies, epidemiological studies in different geographical areas are required in order to assess the impact of HPV-related diseases. The purpose of the present study was to describe the burden of HPV-related hospitalizations in Sicily. A retrospective observational study estimated 43,531 hospitalizations attributable to HPV from 2007 to 2017. During the observed period, there was a decrease for all HPV-related conditions with a higher reduction, among neoplasms, for cervical cancer (annual percent change (APC) = −9.9%, p < 0.001). The median age for cervical cancer was 45 years old, with an increasing value from 43 to 47 years (p < 0.001). The age classes with greater decreases in hospital admissions for invasive cancers were women aged 35 years or more (APC range from −5.5 to −9.86) and 25–34 years old (APC = −11.87, p < 0.001) for women with cervical carcinoma in situ. After ten years for vaccine introduction and sixteen years for cervical cancer screening availability, a relatively large decrease in hospital admissions for cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases in Sicily was observed. Some clinical characteristics of hospitalization, such as increasing age, are suggestive clues for the impact of preventive strategies, but further research is needed to confirm this relationship.
Highlights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the most common causative agent responsible for sexually transmitted infections in the general population [1]
73,284 hospitalizations for potential human papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases were detected among Sicilian people during the entire period
According to the reported attributable fractions, it was estimated that 43,531 hospitalizations could be considered related to HPV in Sicily
Summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered the most common causative agent responsible for sexually transmitted infections in the general population [1]. The prevalence of HPV infection varies greatly around the world, being dependent on the target population and the severity of the disease [2]. HPV serotypes can be classified into high- and low-risk types according to their capacity to induce cancer [3]. HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers, a relevant proportion of vaginal (78%), anal (88%), as well as some vulvar (25%) or penile (50%) cancers and, together with HPV types 31/33/45/52/58, are responsible for about 90% of HPV-related cancers worldwide [7]
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