Incidence and Types of Human Papillomavirus Infections in Adolescent Girls and Young Women Immunized With the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Question Has the introduction of the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) been associated with changes in infection rates among sexually active adolescent girls and young adult women? Findings This cohort study assessed HPV infection rates of vaccinated adolescent and young adult women at a large adolescent-specific health center in New York City. Age-adjusted cervical HPV detection of vaccine-related types were lower year over year, while the prevalence of nonvaccine high-risk HPV types remained flat or higher. Meaning These results indicate the real-world effectiveness of the HPV vaccines in female youth in New York City; nevertheless, rates of some nonvaccine high-risk HPV types were higher. IMPORTANCE Rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have decreased since the introduction of HPV vaccines in populations with high vaccine uptake. Data are limited for adolescent and young adult populations in US metropolitan centers. OBJECTIVE To determine HPV infection rates in adolescent girls and young women aged 13 to 21 years in New York City following HPV vaccination. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study of type-specific cervical HPV detection was conducted at a large adolescent-specific integrated health center in New York City between October 2007 and September 2019. Participants included an open cohort of adolescent girls and young adult women who received the HPV vaccine (Gardasil; Merck & Co) over a 12-year period following HPV vaccination introduction. Data analysis was concluded September 2019. EXPOSURES Calendar date and time since receipt of first vaccine dose. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Temporal associations in age-adjusted postvaccine HPV rates. RESULTS A total of 1453 participants, with a mean (SD) age at baseline of 18.2 (1.4) years, were included in the cohort (African American with no Hispanic ethnicity, 515 [35.4%] participants; African American with Hispanic ethnicity, 218 [15.0%] participants; Hispanic with no reported race, 637 [43.8%] participants). Approximately half (694 [47.8%] participants) were vaccinated prior to coitarche. Age-adjusted detection rates for quadrivalent vaccine types (HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18) and related types (HPV-31, and HPV-45) decreased year over year, with the largest effect sizes observed among individuals who had been vaccinated before coitarche (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-0.98). By contrast, detection was higher year over year for nonvaccine high-risk cervical HPV types (aOR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04-1.13) and anal HPV types (aOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.17). The largest effect sizes were observed with nonvaccine types HPV-56 and HPV-68. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Whereas lower detection rates of vaccine-related HPV types were observed since introduction of vaccines in female youth in New York City, rates of some nonvaccine high-risk HPV types were higher. Continued monitoring of high-risk HPV prevalence is warranted. This cohort study of a single health center in New York City examines changes in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection rates among adolescent girls and young women following the introduction of a quadrivalent vaccine.

Automated summary

The study assessed the impact of HPV vaccination on infection rates among adolescent and young adult women in New York City. The results showed a decrease in infection rates for vaccine-related HPV types, but higher rates for some nonvaccine high-risk HPV types, indicating the importance of continued monitoring of HPV prevalence.