Prevalence and risk factors for cervical HPV infection and abnormalities in young adult women at enrolment in the multinational PATRICIA trial

Abstract

Objective: We evaluated baseline data from the PApilloma TRIal against Cancer In young Adults (PATRICIA; NCT00122681) on the association between behavioral risk factors and HPV infection and cervical abnormalities.

Methods: Women completed behavioral questionnaires at baseline. Prevalence of HPV infection and cervical abnormalities (detected by cytological or histological procedures) and association with behavioral risk factors were analyzed by univariate and stepwise multivariable logistic regressions.

Results: 16782 women completed questionnaires. Among 16748 women with data for HPV infection, 4059 (24.2%) were infected with any HPV type. Among 16757 women with data for cytological abnormalities, 1626 (9.7%) had a cytological abnormality, of whom 1170 (72.0%) were infected with at least one oncogenic HPV type including HPV-16 (22.7%) and HPV-18 (9.3%). Multivariable analysis (adjusted for age and region, N=14404) showed a significant association between infection with any HPV type and not living with a partner, smoking, age <15 years at first sexual intercourse, higher number of sexual partners during the past 12 months, longer duration of hormonal contraception and history of sexually transmitted infection (STI). For cervical abnormalities, only history of STI (excluding Chlamydia trachomatis) remained significant in the multivariable analysis after adjusting for HPV infection.

Conclusions: Women reporting 3+ sexual partners in the past 12 months had the highest risk of HPV infection at baseline. HPV infection was the main risk factor for cervical abnormalities, and history of STIs excluding Chlamydia trachomatis increased risk to a lesser extent. Although behavioral factors can influence risk, all sexually active women are susceptible to HPV infection.