No correlation between HPV infections in the upper aerodigestive tract and sexual behavior

Introduction:

Based on mostly Anglo-American data it is assumed that HPV-infection in HNSCC is significantly correlated with sexual behavior, age and tobacco- and alcohol consumption of the patients. Hence HPV-infections of the oropharynx are regarded as sexual transmitted disease. Comparable data for patient populations outside the US and in particular Germany are not available

Method:

Questionnaires regarding smoking habit, sexual orientation number of lifetime sexual partners and the habit of performing oral sex were pseudonymizated and given to 28 patients with tonsillar hyperplasia (H) and 127 patients with tonsillar carcinomas (CA) of the latter 53 CAs were questioned prospectively (pCA) and 75 retrospectively (rCA). The answers were correlated with each other, patients' age and HPV-status.

Results:

Return rate: 89% (n = 25) H; 62% (n = 80) CA [73% (n = 39) pCA; 55% (n = 41) rCA]. Age: 58 ± 11yrs (range: 28 – 82yrs). No significant differences exist between age, gender, HPV-status, pCA and rCA. H-patients are younger than rCA or pCA patients. Sexual orientation, number of lifetime sexual partners and the habit of performing oral sex and alcohol consumption have no effect on the HPV-status. As expected a significant correlation between smoking habit and lack of HPV-infection and vice versa was seen (p = 0.01).

Discussion:

The data show that in the here analyzed patient cohort no correlation between sexual behavior and HPV-infection can be established. The significant correlation between smoking and HPV confirm the validity of the data. Classifying an oral/tonsillar HPV-infection as a sexual transmitted disease is based on the data presented here not comprehensible.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)