Incidence, persistence, and clearance of cervical human papillomavirus infection among gynecological outpatients in Kunming, Yunnan, China, 2019–2023: a retrospective cohort study

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a leading sexually transmitted pathogen, is characterized by persistent infection, which represents a critical risk factor for cervical carcinogenesis. This retrospective cohort study investigated the epidemiology of HPV among 45,149 gynecological outpatients in Yunnan, China (2019-2023). The 12-month cumulative incidence of HPV infection was 36.84%, with the highest rates observed in the 30-49-year age group. HPV-52 was the predominant subtype, followed by HPV-51, -81, -58, and -16. Persistent infection was observed in 55.56% of cases, most frequently involving HPV-42, -52, -58, -81, and -56, with higher rates in individuals younger than 30 and older than 59 years. Overall clearance reached 74.43% and was inversely correlated with age. Rapid clearance was predominantly observed for HPV-26, -83, -11, -82, and -44, whereas high-risk HPV types (HPV-58, HPV-52, HPV-35) and low-risk types (HPV-42, HPV-81, HPV-43) exhibited prolonged persistence. Regional data indicate elevated risks of incident and persistent infections with HPV-58, HPV-52, HPV-42, and HPV-81, with older populations showing greater susceptibility to persistence and younger individuals demonstrating faster clearance. These findings underscore the age-specific dynamics of HPV infection and highlight priority subtypes for regional cervical cancer prevention strategies.