Investigating the Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection: Insights from a Population-Based Study

Background It is estimated that around 132,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in India, leading to 74,000 deaths. Variations in the prevalence and distribution of HPV infection exist based on geography and ethnicity, underscoring the necessity for region-specific data on HPV infection and genotype prevalence. Aim The study aims to analyze HPV high-risk strain infections across various age groups of women and investigate the evolving prevalence of HPV within the study population. Subjects and Methods HPV infection, with a specific focus on high-risk types, was identified through the application of PCR-based technology in a cohort of 3009 women who visited Gupte Hospital. Confirmation through Sanger sequencing was conducted for samples that tested positive for HPV. We performed age-wise and year-wise HPV prevalence analysis. Results Among the 3009 samples, a total of 68 HPV high-risk positive infections were observed. Prominent HPV high-risk strains HPV 16 and HPV 33 were observed, followed by HPV 18 and HPV 51. Women in the age group 30–40 were prominently prone to HPV infection. The rate of incidence also increased over 3 years in the study population. Conclusion It underscores the imperative to enhance awareness and screening for HPV in the Indian demographic to enable early detection. This has implications for improved treatment and timely management, mitigating the risk of developing cancers associated with HPV.