title: Anal human papillomavirus infection prevalence in men who have sex with men is age-independent: a role for recent sexual behavior?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Considering that data available on age-specific prevalence of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) are limited and conflicting, we aimed to assess the age-related trend of this infection in HIV-uninfected MSM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anal samples, collected using a Dacron swab, were analyzed by the Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test (Roche Diagnostics, Milan, Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 408 males enrolled, HPV prevalence was 72.8% and did not significantly change across ages both for any (p = 0.506) and high-risk genotypes (p = 0.588). HPV prevalence by age group did not vary also after adjusting for median number and median age of recent partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among urban MSM at risk for sexually transmitted infections, this stability in anal HPV prevalence across all ages may be driven by multiple partnerships in association with sexual mixing across all age groups. Interventions to increase awareness of lifetime HPV risk and willingness to adopt preventive measures may reduce HPV-associated health burden in MSM.
authors.affiliation: Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Unit, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Donà
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benevolo
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cristaudo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000821:virology*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: age; human papillomavirus; infection; men who have sex with men; prevalence