Investigator
Essen University Hospital
Trends in Human Papillomavirus-Related Health Burden in Greece from 1996 to 2021 with a Focus on Cervical and Lip, Oral Cavity, and Pharyngeal Cancer
This study aimed to evaluate the burden of HPV-related hospitalization and mortality in Greece, with a focus on invasive cervical cancer and lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal (LOCP) cancers. A retrospective query using data from the Greek Statistical Office and Eurostat was executed. The query included hospital admission and standardized mortality rates (SDRs) on cervical dysplasia and cervical, vulvar, and vaginal; anal; penile; and LOCP cancers. The hospitalization rate for invasive cervical cancer decreased over time, exhibiting a sharp decrease after 2010, while the hospitalization rate for LOCP cancer decreased after 2011, preceded by a sustained increase from 1996. The hospitalization rate of HPV-attributable diseases in total showed a declining tendency between 2013 and 2017. SDR due to cervical cancer showed a slightly decreasing trend in Greece and the European Union, while SDR due to LOCP cancer showed a slightly increasing trend in Greece, but a decrease in the European Union. The decline in hospitalization rates for HPV-related disease in Greece, especially for cervical cancer and dysplasia, and also the declining SDR for invasive cervical cancer in Greece and the EU, are indications of the positive public health impact of screening programs and the implementation of HPV vaccination.
Burden of HPV-Related Hospitalization in Germany from 2000 to 2021
HPV has been linked to the development of precancerous and cancerous lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden of HPV-related hospitalization in Germany from 2000 to 2021 and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on it. Methods: We performed a retrospective query using data from the German Statistical Office from 2000 to 2021, including hospital admission, inpatient mortality and hospital stay length data on cervical cancer/dysplasia, female genitourinary tract, anal, penile, head and neck cancers. Results: The HPV-attributable hospitalization rate per 100,000 inhabitants in Germany has decreased over time, from 89 cases in 2000 to 60 in 2021, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of −1.93 (CI −2.08–−1.79, p < 0.05). The same trend was observed for the average hospital stay, which declined from 9 to 7 days, with an AAPC of −1.33 (CI −1.52–−1.21, p < 0.05). An undulating but overall slightly declining pattern was observed for the inpatient mortality (AAPC −0.92, CI −1.21–−0.64, p < 0.05). We observed a reduction in the hospitalization rates for invasive and non-invasive cervical cancer, which was observed in almost all age groups and in all German federal states. Conclusion: Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the trends in HPV-related hospitalizations over the past two decades. The decline in hospitalization rates for cervical cancer and dysplasia suggests the potential efficacy of the HPV vaccination and screening programs.
