Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Among Older Women

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 112; no. 5; pp. 979 - 989
• Main Authors: TESSLER LINDAU, Stacy, DRUM, Melinda L, GAUMER, Elyzabeth, SURAWSKA, Hanna, JORDAN, Jeanne A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Science 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alphapapillomavirus - classification; Alphapapillomavirus - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Genotype; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Papillomavirus Infections - classification; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Prevalence; Papillomavirus; Virus; Human; High risk; Human papillomavirus; Prevalence; Gynecology; Female; Papovaviridae; Woman; Epidemiology; Obstetrics
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31818b0df2

To estimate the prevalence, genotypes, and individual-level correlates of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) among women aged 57-85. Community-residing women (N=1,550), aged 57-85, were drawn from a nationally representative probability sample. In-home interviews and biomeasures, including a self-collected vaginal specimen, were obtained between 2005 and 2006. Specimens were analyzed for high-risk HPV DNA using Hybrid Capture 2; of 1,028 specimens provided, 1,010 were adequate for analysis. All samples testing positive were analyzed for HPV DNA by L1 consensus polymerase chain reaction followed by type-specific hybridization. The overall population-based weighted estimate of high-risk HPV prevalence by Hybrid Capture 2 (Digene Corp.) was 6.0% (95% confidence interval 4.5- 7.9). Current marital and smoking status, frequency of sexual activity, history of cancer, and hysterectomy were associated with high-risk HPV positivity. Among high-risk HPV-positive women, 63% had multiple type infections. Human papillomavirus-16 or -18 was present in 17.4% of all high-risk HPV-positive women. The most common high-risk genotypes among high-risk HPV-positive women were HPV-61 (19.1%), -31 (13.1%), -52 (12.9%), -58 (12.5%), -83 (12.3%), -66 (12.0%), -51 (11.7%), -45 (11.2%), -56 (10.3%), -53 (10.2%), -16 (9.7%), and -62 (9.2%). Being married and having an intact uterus were independently associated with lower prevalence of high-risk HPV. Among unmarried women, current sexual activity and smoking were independently and positively associated with high-risk HPV infection. In this nationally representative population, nearly 1 in 16 women aged 57-85 was found to have high-risk HPV, and prevalence was stable across older age groups. II.