The prevalence and distribution of human papillomavirus among 10,867 Chinese Han women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among Chinese Han women, and to explore the risk of high-grade cervical lesions associated with individual hr-HPV genotypes. METHODS: Genotyping and histopathology data from the Chinese Multi-Center Screening Trial (CHIMUST) and its pilot screening trial, from 6 regions across mainland China, were re-analyzed. The data from physician- and self-collected samples from 10,867 Chinese Han women (ages 30–69) were used to determine the prevalence and distribution of hr-HPV and to explore the risk association between hr-HPV genotypes and precancerous lesions. RESULTS: 9.2% of the study population tested hr-HPV positive in physician-collected sample. The prevalence varied regionally from the lowest in Guangdong (6.3%) to the highest in Inner Mongolia (13.0%). The most prevalent genotypes found were HPV-52 (21.7%), HPV-16 (19.2%), HPV-58 (15.0%), HPV-39 (8.9%), and HPV-51 (8.2%). The overall odds ratios for CIN2+ and CIN3+ for the presence of HPV-16 was 58.6 (95% CI 39.2–87.5) and, 91.6 (95%CI 54.3–154.6), respectively and remained the highest odds ratio for CIN3+ in all 6 regions. CONCLUSION: Geographical variation exists in the prevalence and distribution of hr-HPV in mainland China. HPV-16/52/58 were the most prevalent genotypes, and HPV-16 had the highest risk for high-grade cervical lesions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CHIMUST, Registration number: ChiCTR-EOC-16008456. Registered 11 May 2016.