Epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus infection among 39,335 women in Gaochun District, Nanjing, China

To characterize HPV positivity, age-specific distribution, infection patterns, genotype distribution, and annual variations in HPV positivity among women undergoing HPV testing at a hospital in Gaochun District, Nanjing, China, and to provide local baseline data for regional HPV surveillance and cervical cancer prevention and control research. This single-center retrospective cross-sectional study included women who underwent HPV testing at Gaochun People’s Hospital of Nanjing between January 2017 and September 2024. For women with multiple HPV testing records during the study period, only the first test result was retained. HPV positivity, risk-category distribution, infection patterns, and genotype distribution were analyzed by age group. Annual HPV positivity rates were summarized descriptively for 2017–2024. The 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HPV positivity rates were calculated using the Wilson method. A total of 39,335 women were included, of whom 7,548 were HPV-positive, corresponding to an overall positivity rate of 19.2% (95% CI, 18.8%–19.6%). The HPV positivity rate differed significantly among age groups (χ²=111.104, P < 0.001). The highest positivity rate was observed in women aged 0–19 years, at 44.2% (42/95), followed by those aged 60–69 years, at 26.0% (356/1,368); the lowest rate was observed in women aged 30–39 years, at 17.3% (1,984/11,484). Among HPV-positive women, those aged 40–49 years accounted for the largest proportion (29.2%). Single-type infection was identified in 5,412 women, accounting for 71.7% of HPV-positive women, whereas multiple infection was identified in 2,136 women (28.3%); double, triple, and ≥ 4-type infections accounted for 19.6%, 5.9%, and 2.8%, respectively. High-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection alone accounted for 71.5%, low-risk HPV (lrHPV) infection alone for 14.6%, and concurrent hrHPV and lrHPV infection for 13.9%. A total of 24 HPV genotypes were detected, with HPV52, HPV16, and HPV58 showing relatively high detection proportions of 23.8%, 12.6%, and 12.4%, respectively. Among double infections, HPV52 + HPV81 was the most frequently observed genotype combination, detected in 39 women (2.6% of women with double infections). The annual HPV positivity rates from 2017 to 2024 were 32.4%, 22.2%, 25.6%, 18.4%, 17.2%, 15.5%, 16.8%, and 16.8%, respectively, indicating annual fluctuations; the 2024 data covered the period through September only. Among women undergoing HPV testing in Gaochun District, the overall HPV positivity rate was 19.2%, with differences in HPV positivity rates observed among age groups. Single-type infection predominated among HPV-positive women, while HPV52, HPV16, and HPV58 were the high-risk genotypes with relatively high detection proportions. Multiple infections showed diverse genotype combinations. The HPV positivity rate fluctuated annually from 2017 to 2024. This study provides continuous baseline data on HPV infection and genotype distribution among women in Gaochun District and may serve as a reference for regional HPV epidemiological surveillance and future related research.