HPV Survey and Analysis of Women in Xizang

Objective To investigate the positive situation of human papillomavirus (HPV) among women in high-altitude areas of Xizang. Methods Retrospective analysis of cervical swab HPV genetyping results of the outpatient, inpatient and physical examination center women in the People's Hospital of Xizang Autonomous Region from March 2019 to July 2023. Results From March 2019 to July 2023, a total of 6,498 female cervical swab HPV genotyping specimens were received, including 5,440 Xizangan female specimens and 1,058 Han female specimens. The overall HPV positive rate of women in high-altitude areas of Xizang is 19.58% (1272/6498), the HPV positive rate of Han women is 29.30% (310/1058), which is significantly higher than that of Xizangan women 17.68% (962/5440). The most common high-risk HPV genotypes are types 52, 16, 58 and 53, and the top three low-risk types of HPV are 43, 81 and 6; there are significant differences in the positive rates of high-risk HPV16, 52, 39, 66, 51, 68 and 58 among Han and Xizangan women (P<0.05). Overall, HPV single positive is the main infection form, accounting for 14.99%; HPV double positive rate is 3.71%, common HPV52 combined with other types (68/241) and HPV16 combined with other types of positive (53/241); three or more mixed positives account for 0.89%. Xizangan women show a "U" trend with a low HPV positive rate in the middle age group and a high positive rate (all greater than 30%) in the age group under 25 and over 60. Between 2019 and 2023, there was no obvious change in the overall HPV positive rate. Conclusions There is a significant difference in the HPV positive rate of Xizangan women and Han women in high-altitude areas of Xizang. The HPV infection rate is highest among Xizangan women in the age group under 25 and over 60 years old. We should focus on strengthening the vaccination of young women in high-altitude areas in Xizang, as well as the screening and diagnosis and treatment of HPV in young women and postmenopausal women.