Abstract

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause epithelial cancers. Persistent oral HPV infection is a significant risk factor for head and neck cancers (HNCs). While prevalence of oral HPV infection has been studied in Western populations where HPV-related OPC incidence is high, less is known in populations elsewhere. This study assessed oral HPV prevalence and genotypes among a large group of Taiwanese men and women. The ”Prevalence of oral human papILLOmavirus infection among adult men and women in Taiwan (PILLOT)” study involved Otorhinolaryngology departments at six medical centers. Adults aged 20-60 who visited hospital clinics between Sep. 2021to Oct. 2022 were eligible. Oral rinse samples were analyzed for oral HPV infection. Participants’ demographics and behaviors were gathered via questionnaires. 2,545 (1,269 men; 1,276 women) had valid samples. 1.6% females and 2.1% of males had a prevalent oral HPV infection. Oral HPV infection showed a moderate association with smoking, betel nuts chewing, and higher lifetime number of male oral sex partners in men. Among those testing positive for oral HPV, 59.6% carried high-risk subtypes, with HPV 18 (23.4%) and HPV 52 (17.0%) being the most prevalent genotypes. This survey unveiled oral HPV prevalence, the most frequent genotypes, and associated factors in Taiwanese.