The association between HPV vaccination and new-onset cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: based on a retrospective study

TL;DR

This study finds that HPV vaccination is linked to lower risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in adults.

Contribution

The novel finding is a potential protective effect of HPV vaccination against non-cancerous cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Findings

Vaccinated individuals had a 10% lower risk of cardiovascular diseases compared to unvaccinated individuals.

HPV vaccination was associated with a 39.5% reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases.

Heart dysfunction risk was 16.7% lower in vaccinated individuals.

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a widespread sexually transmitted infection, is well-known for its association with cancers like cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal. While extensively studied for its oncogenic properties, HPV’s influence on these non-cancerous conditions remains under investigation. This study examines the impact of HPV vaccination on the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, exploring its protective potential.

Utilizing the global TriNetX database, this retrospective cohort study analyzed data from adults aged 20 to 40 who were either vaccinated or not vaccinated against HPV between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. The study employed propensity score matching to ensure balanced comparison groups and utilized ICD-10 codes to identify new-onset cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

The study included 59,423 vaccinated and an equal number of unvaccinated individuals, balanced for various demographic and health characteristics. The vaccinated group demonstrated a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.9, 95% CI 0.847–0.957), cerebrovascular diseases (HR = 0.605, 95% CI 0.484–0.754), and heart dysfunction (HR = 0.833, 95% CI 0.708–0.98) compared to the unvaccinated group. Subgroup analyses further supported the protective effect of HPV vaccination across different demographics.

HPV vaccination is linked to a lower risk of new-onset cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in adults, suggesting broader health benefits beyond cancer prevention. These results advocate for incorporating cardiovascular health into public health strategies promoting HPV vaccination. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanisms and validate these protective effects across diverse populations and extended follow-up periods.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41043-025-00918-y.

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