One in three men in the world is infected with human papillomavirus
Up to one third of the world's male population is infected with at least one type of genital human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV of high oncogenic risk has been found in one in five. The highest prevalence of papillomavirus was found in North American countries, with the lowest in East and Southeast Asia.Researchers from the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the Belgian Cancer Center, the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and the WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health estimated the prevalence of HPV in men. The results of the study are published in The Lancet Global Health.
The overall prevalence of papillomavirus in men globally was 31%, and 21% for high oncogenic risk HPV. HPV type 16 was most common (5%), with HPV type 6 (4%) having the second highest prevalence.
The highest prevalence of papillomavirus was found in young men, reaching a maximum in people between 25 and 29 years of age. At older ages, the rates are slightly lower.
The lowest prevalence of papillomavirus in men is found in East and Southeast Asia (15%), and the highest in North America (45%). HPV of high oncogenic risk was more frequently detected in those living in South American countries (31%) and least frequently in East Asians (9%). In Europe, the prevalence of papillomavirus was 31% and 22% for high-risk HPV. In addition, papillomavirus prevalence was slightly higher in high-income countries than in middle- and low-income countries (34% and 28%, respectively).
They analyzed the Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and Global Index Medicus databases from 1995 to 2022 and identified 5685 studies that estimated the prevalence of human papillomavirus in men. Data from 65 studies from 35 countries were included, involving men 15 years of age and older without HPV-related disease or known risk factors for papillomavirus. The presence of HPV was determined by PCR of anogenital scrapings or by hybrid capture for detection of HPV DNA.
According to the authors, sexually active men, regardless of age, serve as a natural reservoir of genital infection caused by HPV. Strategies should be developed to prevent papillomavirus in men to reduce mortality and complications associated with infection, as well as to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.