title: Decreased prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection is associated with obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is correlated with low education, low economic status, and lower rates of Pap smears, which are known as socio-demographic risk factors for cervical cancer. However, the association between obesity and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection, the necessary cause of cervical cancer, and its related precursors, is not established.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors examined the association between obesity and HR-HPV infection in 6,868 patients, who participated in annual health examinations at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, Korea, from January through December 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HR-HPV infection was 14.8%. Women infected with HR-HPV had a lower body mass index (BMI), when compared with non-infected women. After adjustment for alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and marital status, HR-HPV infection was found to be negatively associated with BMI. When the analysis was stratified according to BMI, the risk of HR-HPV infection was significantly lower among those who were overweight (OR = 0.817, 95% CI = 0.680-0.982), or obese (OR = 0.688, 95% CI = 0.556-0.851), when compared with women with normal weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HR-HPV infection was associated with obesity defined by BMI, with a lower prevalence of infection observed in obese women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha