Study Reveals HPV Infection Increases Risk of Heart Disease

The article, titled “Human papillomavirus infection and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort study,” published in the European Heart Journal, delves into the relationship between high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and cardiovascular mortality. The study’s findings highlight a significant association between HR-HPV infection and an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD), with a more pronounced trend observed in obese individuals. 

The research involved a cohort of 163,250 CVD-free Korean women with a mean age of 40.2 years, who underwent HR-HPV screening and were tracked for up to 17 years. The study revealed that women with HR-HPV infection had higher mortality rates from CVD compared to those without the infection. Specifically, the hazard ratios (HRs) for ASCVD, IHD, and stroke mortality were significantly higher in HR-HPV positive women, with obesity further amplifying the risk associated with HR-HPV infection. 

This study is pivotal as it underscores HR-HPV infection as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, expanding the understanding of CVD beyond traditional risk factors. The findings suggest that HR-HPV infection could be considered in the development of preventive strategies for reducing cardiovascular mortality, especially among women. The study also emphasizes the importance of managing conventional CVD risk factors and suggests that HPV vaccination might play a role in mitigating the long-term cardiovascular consequences associated with HR-HPV infection. 

In conclusion, the study adds a new dimension to cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention, indicating that HR-HPV infection is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. This association, particularly stronger in obese individuals, highlights the need for integrated approaches to CVD prevention that include consideration of infectious agents like HR-HPV. 

Journal Link- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae020/7600040?login=false