Epidemiology and Clinical Profile of Cutaneous Warts in Chinese College Students: A Cross-Sectional and Follow-Up Study

In this study, the hands and feet of 15,384 undergraduate and postgraduate students in 3 colleges in Beijing were examined for the presence of cutaneous warts at college-entry, and those diagnosed with warts were followed up 2–3 years later. We identified totally 215 (1.4%; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6%) students with warts. The prevalence was significantly higher in male than in female students (2.0% vs. 0.9%, P < 0.0001). Of the 215 patients, 66.9% and 62.1% had only one wart and 98.3% and 93.2% had warts <1 cm in diameter, on the hands and feet, respectively. Of the 130 patients with a follow-up visit, 78 did not receive any treatment (44 recovered within 2 years). Patients aged 21–25 compared to those aged ≤20 were more likely to be free of warts (hazard ratio = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.07–2.89), while lower father’s education (hazard ratio = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04–0.98) and poor sleep quality (hazard ratio = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.18–0.92) decreased the likelihood of resolution. The prevalence of warts is 1.4% in college students. The majority of patients have warts <1 cm and approximately 2/3 patients has one wart. Slightly over half of patients recover spontaneously within 2 years. Patients’ age, sleep quality, and paternal education may affect the resolution.