Baseline data on distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in cervical samples of gynecological patients before implementation of population-based HPV vaccination program in Poland.

Objectives: Free-of-charge vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) of 12-13-year-old teenagers was introduced on the 1st of June 2023 in Poland. Data on baseline HPV genotype cervical distribution are crucial to evaluate potential changes after full implementation of the vaccination program. We aimed at evaluating the status of HPV infection and distribution of HPV genotypes in cervical cytology of gynecological patients tested in one of the largest HPV laboratories in Poland.

Material and methods: Data on all HPV tests performed in ALAB Laboratoria Sp. z o. o. in Poland in 2018-2021 were analyzed, focusing on tests that identified genotypes: 6, 11, 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 70, 73, 81, 82, 83, 89. Distribution of HPV genotypes was assessed among HPV-positive women.

Results: Among 11.151 medical records retrieved in women with valid HPV test results, 5.681 were positive (50.9%), of whom 2.929 were infected with a single genotype (51.6%). At least one high-risk (HR) genotype was detected in 4.351 women (76.6%). Among all HPV-positive women, the most common HR genotypes were HPV-16, HPV-31 and HPV-66 (24.0%, 11.3%, 11.3%, respectively). HPV-53 was the most prevalent among non-HR types (10.5%).

Conclusions: HPV-16 followed by HPV-31 and HPV-66 were the most frequent genotypes in the studied cohort. These results may be compared with the same methodology after full roll-out of HPV vaccination program in the future to track potential changes in HPV genotype distribution.