A study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases examined the incidence of newly detected anogenital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among unvaccinated US women aged 27 years and older, using electronic health records and claims data.
Key Findings
- The five-year cumulative incidence of HPV infection was 10.3% in the primary sample (Dataworks, 305,974 women) and 12.3% in the secondary sample (Linked, 9,772 women).
- Incidence peaked at 21.1% for women aged 27–29, declined to 6.7% for women aged 55–59, then increased again after age 60.
- Black women and women residing in the South had the highest incidence rates.
- Hispanic women had higher incidence than non-Hispanic women.
- Medicaid enrollees had higher incidence (21.6%) compared to commercially insured women.
- The study indicates that HPV risk extends beyond early adulthood, with potential reactivation of latent infections or new acquisitions later in life.
Background
The CDC recommends routine HPV vaccination for ages 11–12, catch-up vaccination through age 26, and shared clinical decision-making for adults aged 27–45. The study was funded by Merck, with some authors affiliated with Merck or TriNetX.
Limitations
The study relied on electronic health records, which may miss care outside participating systems, and could not distinguish new infections from reactivation. The cohort may not fully represent the general US population.