Risk factors associated with oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence within a young adult population.
BMC Public Health
; 24(1): 1485, 2024 Jun 03.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38831431
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The prevalence of, and risk factors for, genital Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections within the young adult population are well-established; the same is not known for oral HPV. This observational study aimed to determine oral HPV prevalence and abundance within a UK young adult population, and examine if sexual practices and established risk factors of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) (such as smoking and alcohol consumption) influenced HPV prevalence.METHODS:
Convenience sampling was used to recruit a small sample of 452 UK-based young adults studying at a higher education (HE) institution to the study; the study was not powered. A highly sensitive real-time PCR HPV screening method was developed for the detection of multiple HPV subtypes from oral swabs. HPV-positive samples were subsequently screened by qPCR for viral subtypes HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, HPV-18. Results were analysed by univariate and multivariate methods and stratified for gender, with lifestyle behaviour data collected via questionnaire. Socio-economic status was not captured within the questionnaire.RESULTS:
We found a high oral HPV prevalence of 22.79%, with a dominance of high-risk viral type HPV-16 (prevalence 19.12%; abundance average 1.08 × 105 copies/million cells) detected within healthy young adults. Frequent smoking (p = .05), masturbation (p = .029), and engagement in multiple sexual activities (p = .057), were found to be associated with oral HPV prevalence, and HPV-16 prevalence, whilst behaviours traditionally associated with genital HPV were not.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results strengthen the link between sexual practices and oral HPV transmission. We suggest that young adults should be considered high-risk for the contraction of oral HPV, although acknowledge that this sample of HE students may not be representative of the wider population. We show that high-risk HPV-16 is prevalent in the healthy population, as well as dominating within OPSCC; this study is one of the first to determine the dominance of oral HPV-16 prevalence and abundance within this population, presenting a clear need for greater awareness of oral HPV infections, and the risk factors for HPV-positive OPSCC within young adults.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Conducta Sexual
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Infecciones por Papillomavirus
Límite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Public Health
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article