The role of body mass index in incidence and persistence of cervical human papillomavirus infection.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the association between body mass index and incident or persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection. METHODS: This cohort study included 6809 women from the general Danish population who participated in two clinical visits (in 1991-1993 and in 1993-1995). Height and weight were measured by nurses, lifestyle data were obtained by structured interviews, and cervical cytology samples were obtained for hrHPV DNA testing. We conducted log-binomial regression to estimate risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident and type-specific persistent hrHPV infection according to body mass index, adjusting for age, education, smoking, and the number of sexual partners in the past year. RESULTS: We found no increased risk of incident hrHPV infection in women who were underweight (RRadjusted, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.64-1.48), overweight (RRadjusted, 0.98, 95% CI, 0.82-1.17), or obese (RRadjusted, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.63-1.36) compared with women of normal weight. The risk of hrHPV persistence was similar in overweight (RRadjusted, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.71-1.34) and obese (RRadjusted, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.56-1.79) women compared with women of normal weight, whereas underweight women had a lower risk (RRadjusted, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity were not associated with HPV incidence or persistence when adjusting for sexual behavior.