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New HPV seroprevalence data may help guide vaccine policies
The first population-based U.S. study to determine the seroprevalence of the four human papillomavirus types in the quadrivalent vaccine may provide data useful for policy makers regarding vaccine recommendations.
The researchers determined the seroprevalence of HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 among 4,303 individuals aged 14 to 59 years. Participants had been involved in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2003-2004.
The seroprevalance rates for type 6 was 17% among females and 6.3% among males. For type 11, the rates were 7.1% among females and 2.0% among males. The rates for type 16 were 15.6% among females and 5.1% among males, and the rates for type 18 were 6.5% among females and 1.5% among males (P<.001 for all comparisons).
The overall rates for any HPV vaccine type were 32.5% among females and 12.2% among males.
The researchers wrote that seroprevalence for any HPV vaccine type increased with the age of participants. The seroprevalence rate among women aged 30 to 39 years was 42% and the rate among men aged 50 to 59 years was 18%.
Analysis demonstrated that 0.4% of females and 0% of males had detectable levels of antibodies to all four vaccine types.
Seroprevalence rates of any HPV vaccine type among non-Hispanic blacks were higher than those among non-Hispanic whites or Mexican Americans.
Associations between seroprevalence of any HPV vaccine type among both males and females existed for two factors: age and lifetime number of sex partners. Poverty level was linked to higher seroprevalence of any HPV vaccine type among women.
Markowitz LE et al. J Infect Dis. 2009;200:1059-1067.