Four-year analysis of high-risk human papillomavirus infection among women in rural areas of Nyingchi City, Tibet

PURPOSE: This study aims to address the existing data gap regarding the status of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and the distribution of HR-HPV subtypes among women in rural areas of Nyingchi City, Tibet. The research objectives include providing insights for HPV vaccine development. METHODS: The research collected data from two rounds of cancer screening conducted among rural women in Nyingchi City, Tibet, from 2019 to 2022. HR-HPV subtype gene detection was performed using the PCR fluorescence method on the collected samples. And then analyzed the HR-HPV infection rate among rural women in Nyingchi City, Tibet, as well as the infection rate of different HR-HPV subtypes and their distribution across different age groups. A comparison was made between the infection rates of women in rural areas outside the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and those in Nyingchi City. RESULTS: A total of 15,687 cases included. The overall HR-HPV infection rate among women in rural areas of Nyingchi City, Tibet, was 13.00% (2040/15,687), which was significantly higher than the rate among women in rural areas outside the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (7.82% (9,249/118,237); χ(2) = 635.7, p < 0.001). The highest HPV infection rate was observed in the 35–39 age group, with a rate of 15.31% (499/3260), which was significantly higher than the rate of 7.22% (1827/25,322) among women in the same age group in rural areas outside the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (χ(2) = 253.00, p < 0.001). The lowest HPV infection rate was found in the 50–54 age group, with a rate of 9.69% (246/2540), which was statistically different from the rate of 8.14% (1,604/19,698) among women in the same age group outside the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (χ(2) = 17.68, p < 0.001). The top three HR-HPV subtypes among women in rural areas of Nyingchi City, Tibet, were HPV52 (20.15%, 411/2040), HPV16 (12.45%, 254/2040), and HPV58 (11.96%, 244/2040). These findings align with the top three HR-HPV subtypes among women in rural areas outside the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Furthermore, the top three HR-HPV subtypes among women aged 35–39, 40–44, and 45–49 in rural areas of Nyingchi City, Tibet, were HPV52, HPV16, and HPV58. In conclusion, the HR-HPV infection rate among women in rural areas of Nyingchi City, Tibet, is significantly higher compared to women in rural areas outside the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with consistent patterns observed in the distribution of the top three HR-HPV subtypes between the two regions.