Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection in HIV-infected Individuals- A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection globally. Some studies demonstrate that the prevalence and incidence of HPV infection are higher in HIV-infected patients compared to non-HIV controls. This study aims to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of HPV among HIV-positive individuals.

Methodology: We followed the guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) to conduct a thorough review. We searched for published literature in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus, using the following keywords: “HPV”, “papillomavirus”, “papillomaviridae”, “head and neck”, “oropharynx”, “oropharyngeal”, “tongue”, “mouth”, “oral”, “oral cavity”, “HIV”, “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome” and “AIDS”. Out of 925 studies, we included 26 in our analysis.

Results: A total of 925 studies were retrieved using our search strategy, with 26 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. The pooled analysis revealed an overall prevalence of oral HPV infection in HIV-infected individuals at 24.00% (95% confidence interval: 16.00-35.00).

Conclusion: This systematic review highlights a notable prevalence of oral HPV infection among individuals living with HIV. These findings underscore the importance of continued research and public health efforts to address the intersection of HIV and HPV, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology and potential implications for preventive strategies in this vulnerable population.