[Multi-center cross-sectional study on type-specific human papillomavirus infection among Chinese women].

OBJECTIVE

To study the type-specific prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women in China and to provide evidence for primary prevention and screening of cervical cancer programs.

METHODS

From May, 2004 to April, 2007, a population-based multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted by the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Women aged 17-59 years from 4 urban areas and 4 rural areas, were screened, under both liquid based cytological and HPV tests for cervical cancer. Specimens of cervical cell were used for genotyping with Linear Array or enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay. Women showed positive in primary screening were referred to exams for further colposcopy and/or histo-pathological detections.

RESULTS

A total of 6723 women were included in the data analysis. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 15.5%. Two age-specific peaks of prevalence of HPV infection were detected among the different age groups. The first peak occurred in 17-24 year-old women in both rural areas and urban areas, while the second one occurred in 40-44 year-old women in urban areas and in 45-49 year-old women in rural areas. The prevalence of HPV infection increased with the severity of diagnosed cervical intraepithelial lesions by cytological or histo-pathological test (χ(2)=62.857, 22.113, P<0.001). HPV16 (3.2%) was seen the most common high risk HPV type, followed by HPV58 (1.8%) , HPV52 (1.5%) , HPV18 (1.0%) and HPV33 (1.0%) respectively. Other common types would include HPV66 (0.64%) , HPV42 (0.58%) and HPV53 (0.46%). The prevalence of HPV16 infection in rural women was significantly higher than that in urban women (χ(2)=4.696, P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of HPV infection in Chinese women seemed to be high and with two age-specific peaks. HPV16 appeared the most commonly seen type in women with cervical lesions. HPV58 and 18 were the predominant types. Type-specific distribution of HPV infection should be taken into consideration in the development of comprehensive cervical cancer prevention strategies in China.