In a study published in The Lancet Global Health and led by the World Health Organization (WHO)he Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)a systematic review and a meta-analysis were carried out that evaluated the prevalence of genital HPV infection in the general male population.
Of the more than 200 different variables of HPV, twelve are considered “high risk” due to their carcinogenic nature. In this regard, almost one in three men over the age of 15 in the world is infected with at least one variant of the genital human papillomavirus (HPV), the most widespread sexually transmitted infection, according to the results of a study carried out between the population.
According to the publication, the global combined prevalence of HPV in men over the age of 15 is 31 percent, considered high, with a special incidence in sexually active men, regardless of their age. This volume represents an important reservoir for genital HPV infections.
The estimates presented also show that the prevalence reaches its peak of infection in young adults between 25 and 29 years of age (35%), with genotype 16 being the most prevalent and at the same time the main cause, together with genotype 18, of cancer. cervical.
Geographically, the results indicate the highest prevalence of any type of HPV in sub-Saharan Africa (37%), followed by Europe and North America (36%), while the lowest prevalence was recorded in East and Southeast Asia, with a 15% for any type of human papilloma virus.
HPV-related cancers in men, mainly penile, anal, oral, or throat, reached approximately 69,400 cases in 2018, according to data from the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer. While, in the case of women, the human papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer and each year causes the death of 340,000 women.
Despite the fact that most human papilloma infections are asymptomatic, the authors of the study intend to raise awareness with these data about the importance of incorporating the male population into prevention strategies and thus reduce morbidity and mortality in both women and men. in men.
by RN
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