Madrid – New research from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden bolsters the evidence supporting widespread HPV vaccination, demonstrating a significant reduction in the risk of precancerous lesions on the vulva and vagina in vaccinated women.Published in JAMA Oncology, the study adds to the growing body of evidence showing the HPV vaccine protects against cancers beyond the cervical, offering crucial insights for public health strategies. Researchers analyzed data from over 770,000 women, finding the strongest protection among those vaccinated before the age of 17.
– KTSTOCK/ ISTOCK – Archivo
MADRID, Dec. 19 (headlinez.news) – Girls vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) demonstrate a significantly lower risk of developing serious precancerous lesions on the vulva and vagina, particularly when vaccinated before the age of 17, according to a new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The findings, published in ‘JAMA Oncology’, expand the understanding of HPV vaccine benefits beyond cervical cancer prevention.
HPV vaccination is a crucial public health measure, and this research highlights the broader protective effects of the vaccine.
In Sweden, HPV vaccination is offered to all secondary school students, protecting against cervical cancer and other conditions caused by the virus. HPV can lead to high-grade precancerous lesions and cancer in various parts of the genital area.
Researchers at the Karolinska Institute found that the tetravalent HPV vaccine, which protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, is associated with a reduced risk of high-grade lesions on the vulva and vagina.
The study analyzed data from over 770,000 women born between 1985 and 1998 who resided in Sweden between 2006 and 2022. Researchers used Swedish health registries to track participants over time. They compared the incidence of high-grade lesions on the vulva and vagina in women who had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine versus those who remained unvaccinated.
After adjusting for factors such as age, education, income, and maternal medical history, the results showed that vaccinated women had a 37% lower risk of these serious lesions compared to unvaccinated women. The protective effect was even more pronounced in women vaccinated before age 17, who experienced a 55% reduction in risk compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
“Our study is the largest of its kind to investigate the relationship between HPV vaccination and serious diseases of the vulva and vagina,” said Yunyang Deng, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute, and the study’s first author. “The results emphasize the importance of offering the HPV vaccine to girls at an early age, before they become sexually active.”
Researchers now plan to investigate the effectiveness of different types of HPV vaccines and the duration of protection. The findings could guide future vaccination strategies and public health recommendations.
“We also want to study the effect of the vaccines on other HPV-related cancers, even in men,” added Jiayao Lei, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Center for Cervical Cancer Elimination at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology at the Karolinska Institute, who led the study.
