Abstract
BackgroundIn order to evaluate the newly implemented gender-neutral HPV vaccination program, knowledge on the pre-vaccine prevalence of HPV infection is of paramount importance. Data on HPV infection among the women with no known previous cytological abnormalities are inexistent in Austria. This study presents data on the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among women with no known cytological abnormalities in west Austria.MethodsWomen between 18 and 65 years of age attending annual cervical cancer screening examinations were included in the study. Data on socio-demographic and reproductive factors were collected using structured questionnaires. Corresponding cervical swab samples were tested for the presence of HPV DNA and were genotyped. Questionnaire data and HPV status were linked with the corresponding cytological findings.ResultsA total of 542 women were included in the study. The mean age of the study participants was 35.9 (SD = 11.5). The prevalence of HPV infection was 20.5 %. HPV 16 (6.5 %), HPV 33 (3.3 %) and HPV 31 (3.0 %) were the dominant genotypes detected. Multivariate analysis showed that women younger than 30 years of age, smokers, women with a higher number of lifetime sexual partners and those living in the eastern districts of the study region were at significantly higher risk of HPV infection.ConclusionsWith this study we present the first data on the prevalence of cervical HPV genotypes among a screening population in Austria. The results not only fill the missing information on HPV infection in this group of women in the country, they also provide baseline data for a future evaluation of the impact of the Austrian gender-neutral HPV immunization program. Moreover, our finding of higher HPV prevalence in the eastern compared to the western district of the study region may – at least partly – explain the east–west gradient in the standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer in the region.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3581-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
In order to evaluate the newly implemented gender-neutral human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program, knowledge on the pre-vaccine prevalence of HPV infection is of paramount importance
With this study we present the first data on the prevalence of cervical HPV genotypes among a screening population in Austria
Our finding of higher HPV prevalence in the eastern compared to the western district of the study region may – at least partly – explain the east–west gradient in the standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer in the region
Summary
In order to evaluate the newly implemented gender-neutral HPV vaccination program, knowledge on the pre-vaccine prevalence of HPV infection is of paramount importance. Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection [1]. It is mostly transient resulting in no cervical lesions or leading to low-grade lesions that often regress spontaneously. Developed nations like Australia and several countries in Europe and North America have integrated HPV immunisation in their vaccination programs soon after the approval. In these countries significant reductions have been observed in many high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infections as well as in HPV-associated warts and precancerous lesion [8,9,10]
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