Association between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotypes and the Severity of Cervical Lesions Determined by Colposcopy among Women in Ranong Province

Abstract

This retrospective analytical study aimed to examine the relationship between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes and the severity of cervical lesions detected by colposcopy among women in Ranong Province. Data were collected from the medical records of 6,328 women who underwent cervical cancer screening between 2022 and 2024. The data included general information records, HPV DNA test results, Liquid-based cytology (LBC) results, and histopathological findings from colposcopic examination. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and associations were tested using the Chi-square test.

The results showed that the prevalence of HPV infection among women in Ranong Province was 7.61%. The most common HPV genotype group was non-16/18, accounting for 78.17%, followed by HPV genotype 16 at 13.51% and HPV genotype 18 at 6.03%. Cytological abnormalities were found in 12.50% of the women, with ASC-US being the most common abnormality, accounting for 2.66%. Among women who underwent colposcopy, histopathological results showed that high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) were the most frequently detected lesions, accounting for 46.55%. The association analysis revealed that HPV genotype was significantly associated with the severity of cervical lesions (p < .001). Women infected with HPV genotype 16 or 18 were 4.64 times more likely to develop high-grade cervical lesions and cervical cancer than those infected with non-16/18 genotypes (OR = 4.64, 95% CI: 2.03–10.63). In conclusion, although non-16/18 HPV genotypes were more commonly detected in the study area, HPV genotypes 16 and 18 were clearly associated with the occurrence of high-grade cervical lesions. These findings support the importance of HPV genotyping for identifying high-risk groups and ensuring timely referral for confirmatory colposcopic examination. This approach may enhance the effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention at both the primary and secondary levels in Ranong Province in a sustainable manner.