Increased CD4(+) T cell count is associated with lower anal human papillomavirus prevalence among HIV-positive male cohort in Taizhou, China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the association between CD4(+) T cell count and combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) with the prevalence of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among HIV-positive male cohort in China. METHODS: A survey was conducted in men from a HIV cohort in Taizhou, China between 2016 and 2019. A face-to-face questionnaire interview was administered, and an anal-canal swab was collected for HPV genotyping. RESULTS: A total of 766 HIV-positive men were recruited. The HPV prevalence was lower among those with increased CD4(+) T cell count than those with decreased or unchanged (46.5 vs. 56.6%, p = 0.033) from baseline. In multivariable models, having the current CD4(+) T cell count of 350–499 cells/µL (aOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13–0.64), and of ≥ 500 cells/µL (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11–0.60) were associated with lower prevalence of any type HPV infection compared with those with < 200 cells/µL. Having taken NVP + 3TC + AZT was inversely associated with any high-risk (HR)-HPV (aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25–0.90) and any low-risk (LR)-HPV infection (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18–0.88), compared with those taking EFV + 3TC + TDF. CONCLUSIONS: Increased CD4(+) T cell count at follow-up was significantly associated with lower prevalence of anal HPV infection. Inverse associations between NVP + 3TC + AZT and HR-HPV or LR-HPV infecton were observed.