Volume 156, Issue 5 pp. 1043-1054
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The variations in the natural history of high-risk human papillomavirus infections in Chinese healthy women aged 27–45 years compared with 18–26 years: A prospective cohort study

Qi Chen

Qi Chen

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: Data curation, ​Investigation, Visualization, Funding acquisition, Writing - original draft, Software, Formal analysis, Validation

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Xingmei Yao

Xingmei Yao

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: Data curation, Software, ​Investigation, Visualization, Writing - review & editing, Formal analysis, Validation

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Jiali Quan

Jiali Quan

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Xinhua Jia

Xinhua Jia

National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Yufei Li

Yufei Li

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Kongxin Zhu

Kongxin Zhu

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Xiaowen Hu

Xiaowen Hu

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Xingcheng Huang

Xingcheng Huang

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Guohua Zhong

Guohua Zhong

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Lingxian Qiu

Lingxian Qiu

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Zhaofeng Bi

Zhaofeng Bi

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing, Funding acquisition

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Mengjun Liao

Mengjun Liao

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Lu Chen

Lu Chen

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Xuefeng Kuang

Xuefeng Kuang

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Zhe Wang

Zhe Wang

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Shangying Hu

Shangying Hu

National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

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Chunlan Zhuang

Chunlan Zhuang

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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Shoujie Huang

Shoujie Huang

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Writing - review & editing, Project administration, Supervision

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Lihui Wei

Lihui Wei

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Project administration, Writing - review & editing, Supervision

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Wen Chen

Wen Chen

National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Project administration, Writing - review & editing, Supervision

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Yingying Su

Yingying Su

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: Writing - review & editing, Validation, Methodology, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization, Supervision, Data curation, Software, Formal analysis

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Fanghui Zhao

Corresponding Author

Fanghui Zhao

National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Correspondence

Ting Wu, State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian Province, China.

Email: [email protected]

Fanghui Zhao, National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: ​Investigation, Supervision, Project administration, Writing - review & editing, Resources

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Ting Wu

Corresponding Author

Ting Wu

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Correspondence

Ting Wu, State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian Province, China.

Email: [email protected]

Fanghui Zhao, National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.

Email: [email protected]

Contribution: Conceptualization, ​Investigation, Supervision, Project administration, Writing - review & editing, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Resources, Formal analysis

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Youlin Qiao

Youlin Qiao

National Cancer Center, National Center for Cancer Clinical Research, The Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Contribution: ​Investigation, Supervision, Project administration, Writing - review & editing

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Jun Zhang

Jun Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Contribution: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Resources, Writing - review & editing

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Ningshao Xia

Ningshao Xia

State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

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First published: 13 December 2024
Citations: 1

Qi Chen and Xingmei Yao contributed equally to this work.

Wen Chen, Yingying Su, Fanghui Zhao, and Ting Wu are joint senior authors who contributed equally.

Abstract

Data investigating the natural history of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection in mid-adult women compared with young adult women from regions exhibiting a bimodal distribution pattern are scarce. From November 2012 to September 2019, 3681 healthy women aged 18–45 years from the control group of a bivalent HPV vaccine Phase 3 trial in China were followed over 5.5 years. At scheduled visits (Day 0, months 7, 12, 18, 24, 30, 42, 54, and 66), cervical samples were collected for ThinPrep Pap tests and HPV DNA testing, women with abnormal cytology were referred for colposcopy. Data was analyzed using Cox regression model and a competing risk model. Sensitivity analyses were performed among participants attending all scheduled visits. The incidences of HR-HPV persistent infections (over 6 months [6mPIs]) were 35.5 and 29.0 per 1000 person-years (PYs) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.46), and HR-HPV associated CIN grade 2 or greater (CIN2+) were 4.3 and 1.9 per 1000 PYs (HR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.25, 4.26) in women aged 18–26 and 27–45 years. Competing risk models showed that the cumulative incidence of HR-HPV infections that progressed to CIN2+ was significantly higher in women aged 18–26 than in women aged 27–45 (5.3% vs. 2.9%, Gray's test p = .0291). The cumulative clearance rates of HR-HPV infections in women aged 18–26 and 27–45 were similar (94.7% vs. 95.8%, Gray's test p = .3309) during the study period. In conclusion, although mid-adult women exhibit lower incidences of HR-HPV infection and associated cervical lesions compared to young women, this population continues to face a substantial risk of acquiring causal HPV infections, which may progress to cervical lesion.

What's New?

Data on the natural history of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in middle-aged women compared to younger women in regions with a bimodal prevalence pattern are scarce. Here, the authors found that although women in China aged 27–45 years exhibit lower incidences of high-risk human papillomavirus infection and associated cervical lesions than younger women, this population continues to face a substantial risk of acquiring causal human papillomavirus infections that may progress to cervical lesions. The findings offer insights for shaping human papillomavirus vaccination policies in China and other regions with a second peak in human papillomavirus prevalence after the mid-twenties.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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