Age-specific prevalence, incidence, and duration of human papillomavirus infections in a cohort of 290 US men.
BACKGROUND
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections cause disease in men and women, and male-to-female HPV transmission influences the risk of cancer in females. The purpose of the present study was to describe the overall and age-specific incidence and clearance of HPV infections in men.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study of 290 men aged 18-44 years, participants were examined at baseline and every 6 months, with a mean duration of follow-up of 15.5 months.


RESULTS
The period prevalence was 52.8% for any, 31.7% for oncogenic, and 30.0% for nononcogenic HPV infection. The 12-month cumulative risk of acquiring a new HPV infection was 29.2%. Incidences of HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 were 2.8, 0.5, 4.8, and 0.8 per 1000 person-months, respectively. The median time to clearance of any HPV infection was 5.9 months (95% confidence interval, 5.7-6.1 months), with comparable times to clearance for oncogenic and nononcogenic infections. Approximately 75% of men tested negative for any HPV 12 months after initial HPV detection. Age was not significantly associated with HPV incidence or duration of infection in men.


CONCLUSIONS
HPV infection in men was common, with relatively rapid rates of acquisition and clearance.
Giuliano
Anna R
AR
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612 , USA. Anna.Giuliano@moffitt.org
Lu
Beibei
B
Nielson
Carrie M
CM
Flores
Roberto
R
Papenfuss
Mary R
MR
Lee
Ji-Hyun
JH
Abrahamsen
Martha
M
Harris
Robin B
RB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010413:Penis / Q000821:virology; D044469:Racial Groups; D012611:Scrotum / Q000821:virology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology