HPV Genotype Distribution and Cervical Lesions in Colposcopy-Referred Women in Western China: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Background HPV genotype distribution and sociodemographic patterns of cervical lesion severity remain under-characterized for colposcopy-referred cohorts in multiethnic western China. This evidence gap impedes precision triage for clinical populations selected through screening thresholds. Objectives To delineate HPV genotype composition and examine sociodemographic profiles associated with biopsy-confirmed cervical lesion grades within a single-center hospital-based colposcopy referral cohort in Xinjiang. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 2,934 patients who underwent colposcopy with complete biopsy data at People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (January 2018–June 2025). Data captured demographics, HPV genotyping, ThinPrep cytology, and histopathological endpoints. Statistical evaluation employed chi-square tests, standardized residual analysis, and ordinal logistic regression. Results Within this referral cohort, high-grade lesions (CIN2+) constituted 44.3% of biopsy specimens. HPV16 accounted for 51.1% of HPV-positive detections, increasing to 77.2% among cervical cancer specimens. HPV52 (10.2%) and HPV58 (9.5%) formed a secondary genotype cluster. Age distribution exhibited a bimodal pattern: high-grade precancerous lesions predominated among patients < 40 years, while invasive cancer specimens were concentrated in those ≥ 50 years. Lower educational attainment and physical-labor occupation corresponded to higher proportions of advanced-stage disease specimens. Conclusion In this Xinjiang colposcopy-referred cohort, HPV16 predominates among high-grade lesions, while HPV52/58 constitute a consequential secondary cluster. The observed sociodemographic distributions underscore the necessity of embedding both virological patterns and social determinants into risk stratification frameworks for referral populations, providing data to inform regionally-tailored triage protocols in secondary care.
