Human papillomavirus prevalence, genotype distribution, risk factors, and cervical pathology association in women aged 50 years and older: a retrospective cross-sectional study in Xinjiang, China

Women aged ≥50 years in Xinjiang have a non-negligible HPV prevalence, with HPV16 and HPV53 as dominant genotypes. A history of cervical surgery was associated with a markedly lower likelihood of HPV detection in this cross-sectional analysis. The association between sexual activity frequency and HPV status was not consistent across analyses and requires cautious interpretation. HPV positivity was strongly correlated with cervical pathological lesions, emphasizing the urgency of tailored screening and prevention strategies for this population.