Prevalence and age-related trends of high-risk Human Papillomavirus genomes in Ecuadorian women: a comprehensive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer worldwide. Previous studies on HPV prevalence in Ecuador have presented inconsistent findings due to limited sample sizes and regional foci. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of HPV infection in Ecuadorian women, identifying high-risk HPV genomes and age-related trends, using data from the Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention Program.

METHODS

Data were collected from multiple health centers across Ecuador, particularly focusing on the province of Pichincha, utilizing GeneXpert technology and the Xpert® HPV kit between January 1 and May 31, 2023 were included. The assay reports HPV16, HPV18/45, and pooled channels for 11 HPV types (P3: 31/33/35/52/58; P4: 51/59; P5: 39/56/66/68).

RESULTS

Of 16,197 valid tests, 1,776 were HPV-positive, yielding a prevalence of 11.0%. Women aged 30-39 were the most affected demographic, accounting for 39.7% of positive cases. The most common HPV genomes identified were 31/33/35/52/58, constituting 42.3% of HPV-positive women (P3 pooled). The prevalence of multiple HPV genome infections was 13.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provides a more nuanced understanding of HPV prevalence in Ecuador, indicating that HPV rates are lower than previous national studies but higher than global estimates. The results lay essential groundwork for targeted public health interventions and suggest the need for future research to address methodological limitations.