Acquisition of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in a population-based cohort of Danish women

TY - JOUR

T1 - Acquisition of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in a population-based cohort of Danish women

AU - Nielsen, Ann

AU - Iftner, Thomas

AU - Munk, Christian

AU - Kjaer, Susanne K

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Cohort Studies; Denmark; Female; Humans; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer. To better understand the natural history of HPV, we assessed the incidence of type-specific HPV infection and examined risk factors for acquisition of high-risk (HR) HPV infection in Danish women. METHODS: A population-based prospective cohort study of women aged 20 to 29 years was conducted. Participants were interviewed and underwent 2 gynaecological examinations 2 years apart. Women for whom Hybrid Capture 2 results were available at both visits were included in the analysis (n = 7454). RESULTS: A HR HPV infection was acquired by 12.8% of the women during follow-up. The incidence decreased with increasing age. The commonest types were HPV16, HPV31, and HPV52. HPV66, HPV58, and HPV53 were mainly acquired with other HR types. Multiple HR types were acquired in 50% of the women who became HPV-positive during follow-up. In initially HPV-negative women age, number of sexual partners, and oral contraceptive use were the main risk factors for acquisition, particularly of multiple HR HPV types. CONCLUSIONS: HPV infections were commonly acquired. We confirmed the sexually transmitted nature of the infection. Our findings show that both the level of potential exposure and other behavioral factors increase the risk for HR HPV acquisition.

AB - BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer. To better understand the natural history of HPV, we assessed the incidence of type-specific HPV infection and examined risk factors for acquisition of high-risk (HR) HPV infection in Danish women. METHODS: A population-based prospective cohort study of women aged 20 to 29 years was conducted. Participants were interviewed and underwent 2 gynaecological examinations 2 years apart. Women for whom Hybrid Capture 2 results were available at both visits were included in the analysis (n = 7454). RESULTS: A HR HPV infection was acquired by 12.8% of the women during follow-up. The incidence decreased with increasing age. The commonest types were HPV16, HPV31, and HPV52. HPV66, HPV58, and HPV53 were mainly acquired with other HR types. Multiple HR types were acquired in 50% of the women who became HPV-positive during follow-up. In initially HPV-negative women age, number of sexual partners, and oral contraceptive use were the main risk factors for acquisition, particularly of multiple HR HPV types. CONCLUSIONS: HPV infections were commonly acquired. We confirmed the sexually transmitted nature of the infection. Our findings show that both the level of potential exposure and other behavioral factors increase the risk for HR HPV acquisition.

U2 - 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181a96d0e

DO - 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181a96d0e

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19955872

SN - 0148-5717

VL - 36

SP - 609

EP - 615

JO - Sexually Transmitted Diseases

JF - Sexually Transmitted Diseases

IS - 10

ER -