title: Population-based prevalence and age distribution of human papillomavirus among women in Santiago, Chile.
abstract: More than 18 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are associated with cervical cancer, the relative importance of the HPV types may vary in different populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the types of HPV, age distribution, and risk factors for HPV infection in women from Santiago, Chile.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed and obtained two cervical specimens from a population-based random sample of 1,038 sexually active women (age range, 15-69 years). Specimens were tested for the presence of HPV DNA using a GP5+/6+ primer-mediated PCR and for cervical cytologic abnormalities by Papanicolaou smears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  122 women tested positive for HPV DNA, 87 with high risk types (HR), and 35 with low risks (LR) only. Standardized prevalence of HPV DNA was 14.0% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 11.5-16.4]. HR HPV by age showed a J reverse curve, whereas LR HPV showed a U curve, both statistically significant in comparison with no effect or with a linear effect. We found 34 HPV types (13 HR and 21 LR); HPV 16, 56, 31, 58, 59, 18, and 52 accounted for 75.4% of HR infections. Thirty-four (3.6%) women had cytologic lesions. Main risk factor for HPV and for cytologic abnormalities was number of lifetime sexual partners, odds ratios for > or =3 versus 1 were 2.8 (95% CI, 1.6-5.0) and 3.8 (95% CI, 1.3-11.4), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LR HPV presented a clear bimodal age pattern; HR HPV presented a J reverse curve. HPV prevalence was similar to that described in most Latin American countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, P Catholic University, Depto. de Salud Pública, Marcoleta, 434, Santiago, Santiago 6510259, Chile. cferrec@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: Catterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreccio
authors.forename: Rodrigo B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Amaranta V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Luzoro
authors.forename: Sandra Ll
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ampuero
authors.forename: Peter J F
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Snijders
authors.forename: Chris J L M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Salvatore V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Vaccarella
authors.forename: Alejandro T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Jara
authors.forename: Klaus I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Puschel
authors.forename: Sylvia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: Silvia F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ojeda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral