Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer remains a significant threat to women's health globally. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women in Chengdu, China, between 2020 and 2024, to provide localized evidence for guiding cervical cancer prevention and control strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using HPV screening data from 51,556 women at Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital (CWCCH) between September 2020 and December 2024. Polymerase chain reaction-gene chip technology (PCR-GCT) was used to genotype 26 HPV types (17 high-risk [HR] and 9 low-risk [LR]). Statistical analyses included the chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis. RESULTS: The overall HPV prevalence was 22.03% (11,360/51,556). The infection rate was significantly higher among gynecological outpatients (25.46%) than among participants undergoing routine health screening (13.97%). Single infections predominated (76.47%). The most prevalent HR-HPV genotypes were HPV-52 (3.89%), -16 (3.11%), -58 (2.58%), -51 (2.17%), and -39 (1.54%). A significant increasing trend in prevalence was observed from 2020 (18.70%) to 2024 (25.25%) (p < 0.001). Age-specific prevalence showed a bimodal distribution, with the first peak in the ≤20 age group (49.35%) and a second smaller peak in the ≥61 age group (30.79%). Prevalence in spring, summer, and autumn was significantly higher than in winter. Notably, 39.40% of LR HPV infections involved co-infections with HR types. CONCLUSION: The high and increasing HPV prevalence in Chengdu, along with its bimodal age distribution, seasonal variation, and frequent HR-LR co-infections-highlights the need for targeted interventions. HPV genotyping is recommended for patients with genital warts, particularly prior to procedures such as excision, to identify high-risk co-infections. A dual strategy of "vaccination and standardized screening" should be reinforced, including promoting the 9-valent vaccine (covering HPV-16/52/58) among young women and enhanced systematic screening for middle-aged and older women to control the second infection peak.