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. 2013 Nov 1;208(9):1397-403.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit361.

Declining genital Warts in young women in england associated with HPV 16/18 vaccination: an ecological study

Rebecca Howell-Jones  1 , Kate Soldan, Sally Wetten, David Mesher, Tim Williams, O Noel Gill, Gwenda Hughes
Affiliations

Declining genital Warts in young women in england associated with HPV 16/18 vaccination: an ecological study

Rebecca Howell-Jones et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Diagnoses of genital warts (GW) in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics have been increasing in England for many years. In 2008, an HPV immunization program began with a bivalent vaccine (Cervarix). This was expected to markedly reduce infections and disease due to human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 but not HPV 6/11 infections or disease. However, from 2009 to 2011 there were decreases in reported diagnoses of GW in young females at GUM clinics.

Methods: Using data from GUM clinics and a sample of general practices (GPs) throughout England, we analyzed rates of GW diagnoses by age, year of diagnosis, and estimated immunization coverage.

Results: The overall reduction in GW diagnoses at GUM clinics between 2008 and 2011 was 13.3% among 16- to 19-year-old females, with the greatest decline of 20.8% in 17-year-olds. Declines were positively associated with estimated immunization coverage. A similar pattern was seen in GP diagnoses, but not among older women, and for other GUM consultations.

Conclusions: Several factors might contribute to declines in GW. However, the size and pattern of the declines strongly suggest that we are observing an unexpected, moderately protective effect of HPV 16/18 vaccination against GW.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00122681.

Keywords: Cervarix; HPV immunization; genital warts; surveillance.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Rates of genital warts diagnoses in genitourinary medicine clinics in England from 2002 to 2011 and HPV immunization coverage of females in England, by age group and year.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A) Rates of first genital wart diagnosis in females (with error bars showing 95% confidence intervals) and human papillomavirus immunization coverage in England, by age and year. (B) Rates of diagnosis for human simplex virus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and chlamydia in genitourinary medicine clinics and HPV immunization coverage in England, by year and age. Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CT, Chlamydia trachomatis; GP, general practitioner; GUM, genitourinary medicine; HPV, human papillomavirus; HSV, human simplex virus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Department of Health. Annual HPV vaccine uptake in England: 2010/11. http://media.dh.gov.uk/network/211/files/2012/03/120319_HPV_UptakeReport... . Accessed April 2013.

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