Unveiling the Landscape of HPV Infection in Tehran: A 14-Year Prevalence and Genotype Study

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the World, particularly among young adults shortly after they become sexually active. Beyond its commonality, HPV is a significant public health concern due to its carcinogenic potential. Globally, HPV is responsible for a substantial number of cancer cases annually, including the vast majority of cervical cancers, as well as a notable proportion of other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Methods: This study examined the demographic characteristics of 6418 individuals (5988 women and 430 men) tested for HPV using data and samples collected from patients visiting a Saeed pathology and genetics laboratory between 2011 to 2024. HPV DNA was extracted from genital samples, representative of both female and male individuals in Tehran, and analyzed for the presence of HPV. Genotyping was performed by real-time PCR and Reverse Hybridization methods for the identification of high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) HPV genotypes. Result HPV prevalence was assessed using four diagnostic methods: INNO-LIPA, HybriSpot, COBAS X480, and Sansure Kit, yielding positive detection rates of 52.5%, 61.5%, 17.2%, and 52.1%, respectively. The proportion of positive HPV test results varied across age groups, with the highest prevalence observed in individuals under 40 years of age. Men referred for HPV testing were more likely to be infected than women (63.3% to 40.8%). The most frequently detected genotypes overall were 6, 16, 52, and 31, in descending order. Notably, 74.4% (517) of patients reported no symptoms and were referred for routine screening. Among HPV-positive individuals, 69.4% (163) were asymptomatic. Conversely, 23.0% (106) of HPV- negative individuals reported at least one clinical symptom. Positive HPV rates were 56.3% and 24.5% in single and married subjects, respectively. Conclusion This study contributes valuable insights into HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in samples collected over a 14-year period in Tehran. The high prevalence of HPV infection, particularly with high-risk