Prevalence of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Australian Indigenous Adults

Key Points Question What is the prevalence of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among Indigenous Australians, a group at risk of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma? Findings This cross-sectional study examined 910 Indigenous Australians for HPV infection with a particular focus on high-risk HPV types. Thirty-five percent of study participants had an oral HPV infection, 15 times the incidence reported in a study of young Australians and 5 times that reported in a systematic review from other countries. Meaning The findings of this study indicate that Indigenous Australians may be at higher risk of developing HPV-related oral cancer, which suggests that increased HPV vaccination coverage among this vulnerable population may be beneficial.