Journal: Scientific reports
This cross-sectional study evaluated HPV epidemiology and screening performance in Putian, a southeastern region of China, using data from 60,280 women aged 35–64 years who participated in a free cervical cancer screening program between 2021 and 2023.
Key findings:
- Overall HPV prevalence: 9.27% (95% CI: 9.04–9.50).
- Most common high-risk genotypes:
- HPV 52: 35.61% of infections
- HPV 58: 16.56%
- HPV 16: 12.38%
- Cervical cancer incidence:
- Peak in women 55–59 years: 95/100,000
- Secondary peak in 50–54 years: 89/100,000
- Notable early-onset increase in 40–44 years: 46/100,000
- National average incidence: 56/100,000
- HPV 16/18 were responsible for most cervical cancer cases, with HPV 58, 33, and 52 as important additional high‑risk genotypes.
- ThinPrep cytology (TCT) showed both clinically meaningful underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis, indicating limitations as a standalone strategy.
- Self-sampling/self-screening: only 1.33% of women engaged in self-sampling/self-screening.
- Urban–rural differences: persistent disparities were observed, particularly in HPV 52/58/33 prevalence and screening participation.
Implications:
- Vaccination: the genotype distribution (high burden of 52/58/33) supports prioritizing broader-coverage vaccination, especially 9‑valent HPV vaccines, in this region.
- Screening and triage: low participation and TCT performance issues argue for improved screening approaches and triage, including consideration of methylation-based testing and targeted efforts to address urban–rural disparities.