Risk factors associated with human papillomavirus infection status in a Korean cohort

Abstract

By surveying extensive epidemiological behavioural and sexual risk factors in a Korean twincohort, risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection were investigated in South Korea.A total of 912 vaginal specimens were collected from the Healthy Twin Study, consisting of twinsand their families. A range of epidemiological, behavioural, and sexual activity characteristicswere evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses of family and twin relationships,adjusted to elucidate the risk factors for HPV infection. Of the various epidemiologicalcharacteristics, the possibility of extramarital affairs [odds ratio (OR) 2·48, 95% confidenceinterval (CI) 1·02?6·02] significantly increased the prevalence of HPV infection. Our multivariateregression analysis indicated that oral contraceptive use (OR 40·64, 95% CI 0·99?1670·7) andhistory of sexually transmitted disease (OR 2·56, 95% CI 0·93?7·10) were strongly associated withan increase in HPV infection. On the other hand, more frequent vaginal douching (OR 0·32, 95%CI 0·13?0·77) significantly decreased the prevalence of HPV infection. Our results suggested thatHPV infection is associated with both biological and behavioural factors