
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is most often associated with causing different types of cancer, but a meta-analysis being presented on March 31 at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC's) Annual Scientific Session in Chicago suggests that it also poses a significant risk of cardiovascular disease.
For the UConn-led review, researchers analyzed 7 studies conducted from 2011 to 2024 that included the HPV status and cardiovascular outcomes of 249,366 patients over follow-up times of 3 to 17 years. Most were retrospective and longitudinal cohort studies, 3 each were from the United States and South Korea, and 1 each was from Brazil and Australia.
The researchers examined the relationship between HPV and cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure in pooled study cohorts. Some analyses adjusted for potential confounding factors such as smoking and diabetes.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause genital warts and cancers of the cervix, other reproductive organs, and the throat.
40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease
Relative to HPV-negative participants, HPV patients had a 40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease and twice the risk of coronary artery disease, but no increased rate of high blood pressure. After adjusting for factors such as sociodemographics, medical history, lifestyle, family history, and use of blood pressure–lowering drugs, HPV patients had a 33% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.