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.
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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.