title: Pre-vaccine era cervical human papillomavirus infection among screening population of women in west Austria.
abstract: In order to evaluate the newly implemented gender-neutral HPV vaccination program, knowledge on the pre-vaccine prevalence of HPV infection is of paramount importance. Data on HPV infection among the women with no known previous cytological abnormalities are inexistent in Austria. This study presents data on the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among women with no known cytological abnormalities in west Austria.
  
  
  
  Women between 18 and 65 years of age attending annual cervical cancer screening examinations were included in the study. Data on socio-demographic and reproductive factors were collected using structured questionnaires. Corresponding cervical swab samples were tested for the presence of HPV DNA and were genotyped. Questionnaire data and HPV status were linked with the corresponding cytological findings.
  
  
  
  A total of 542 women were included in the study. The mean age of the study participants was 35.9 (SD = 11.5). The prevalence of HPV infection was 20.5 %. HPV 16 (6.5 %), HPV 33 (3.3 %) and HPV 31 (3.0 %) were the dominant genotypes detected. Multivariate analysis showed that women younger than 30 years of age, smokers, women with a higher number of lifetime sexual partners and those living in the eastern districts of the study region were at significantly higher risk of HPV infection.
  
  
  
  With this study we present the first data on the prevalence of cervical HPV genotypes among a screening population in Austria. The results not only fill the missing information on HPV infection in this group of women in the country, they also provide baseline data for a future evaluation of the impact of the Austrian gender-neutral HPV immunization program. Moreover, our finding of higher HPV prevalence in the eastern compared to the western district of the study region may - at least partly - explain the east-west gradient in the standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer in the region.
authors: Division of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schoepfstrasse 41, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. wegene.borena@i-med.ac.at.
authors: Wegene
authors: W
authors: Borena
authors: Division of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schoepfstrasse 41, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Margarethe
authors: M
authors: Grünberger
authors: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Widschwendter
authors: , Landeck, Austria.
authors: Karl Heinz
authors: KH
authors: Kraxner
authors: , Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Marth
authors: , Kufstein, Austria.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Mayr
authors: , Imst, Austria.
authors: Joerg
authors: J
authors: Meier
authors: , Woergl, Austria.
authors: Norman
authors: N
authors: Ruth
authors: Division of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schoepfstrasse 41, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Aida Tort
authors: AT
authors: Guerrero
authors: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Marth
authors: Division of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schoepfstrasse 41, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Dorothee
authors: D
authors: Holm-von Laer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines
keywords: Cervical cancer; HPV epidemiology; HPV vaccine; Womens’ health