Prognostic impact of human papillomavirus infection on cervical dysplasia, cancer, and patient survival in Saudi Arabia: A 10-year retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: Data on human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and survival rates among HPV-infected women are scarce in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: Assess the prevalence of HPV genotypes in cervical biopsy specimens and its effect on survival over a 10-year timeframe. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional. SETTINGS: Saudi referral hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cervical biopsy specimens were collected from women aged 23-95 years old who underwent HPV detection, HPV genotyping, p16(INK4a) expression measurement using immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier plots were constructed to analyze overall survival rates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival rate of HPV-positive cervical cancer patients. SAMPLE SIZE: 315 cervical biopsy specimens. RESULTS: HPV was detected in 96 patients (30.4%): 37.3% had cervical cancer; 14.2% cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III, 4.1% CIN II, and 17.0% CIN I. A significant association was found between HPV presence and cervical cancer (χ(2)=56.78; P<.001). The expression of p16(INK4a) was a significant predictor of survival: women who had p16(INK4a) overexpression had poorer survival rates (multivariate Cox regression, hazard ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1–8.8). In addition, multivariate models with HPV status and cervical cancer diagnosis showed that HPV status was a significant predictor of survival: HPV-positive women had better survival rates than HPV-negative women. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that implementing cervical and HPV screening programs may decrease cervical cancer rates and improve survival rates of women in Saudi Arabia. LIMITATION: Single center and small sample size. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.