# The Epidemiology of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infections in Poland in the Light of the Nationwide HPV Vaccination Program for Children Aged 12–13 and Updated HPV DNA Detection Guidelines

## TL;DR

This study examines HPV infection patterns in Poland before a nationwide vaccination program, highlighting differences between genders and age groups.

## Contribution

The study provides an epidemiological baseline for assessing the impact of Poland's new HPV vaccination and screening strategies.

## Key findings

- HR-HPV genotypes accounted for 64.53% of infections, with the highest prevalence in individuals aged 26–35.
- HPV-18 was more common in women, while HPV-53 was more frequent in men.
- Multigenotypic infections were common, especially in younger patients and associated with LSIL changes.

## Abstract

Many countries have introduced HPV screening and vaccination programs to reduce the burden of cervical cancer. In Poland, before 2023, HPV vaccination was available only on an individual, non-universal basis, using all types of vaccines, while in 2023, a nationwide vaccination program for boys and girls aged 12–13 years was introduced alongside updated screening guidelines. This retrospective study analyzed 2296 HPV-positive test results obtained from adult patients in Poland, including demographic data, HPV genotypes distribution, infection intensity, and cytological findings. HPV genotyping was performed using the Anyplex™ II HPV28 assay. HR-HPV genotypes accounted for 64.53% of all detected infections, with the highest prevalence observed in individuals aged 26–35 years of both sexes. HPV-18 was significantly more frequently in women (p = 0.0430), whereas HPV-53 predominated in men (p = 0.0030). Men more often presented low-intensity infections, while women showed higher viral load. Multigenotypic infections occurred in 46.5% of cases, particularly among younger patients (p < 0.001), and were significantly associated with LSIL changes in cytology. The HSIL type correlated most strongly with HPV-16 (p < 0.001). These findings confirm the high burden of HR-HPV infections in the Polish adult population and provide an essential epidemiological baseline for evaluating the impact of universal HPV vaccination and updated screening strategies.