Individuals testing positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) had a 40% greater risk for overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) than HPV-negative individuals, based on the data from nearly 250,000 patients. The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session and Expo.
“Although high-risk HPV is known to play a role in anogenital cancers, emerging research suggests a possible association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well,” said co-author Stephen Akinfenwa, MD, in an interview. “Given that CVD remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, identifying nontraditional risk factors, especially those that may be preventable through vaccination, could significantly impact public health,” said Akinfenwa, who presented the findings at the meeting.
The researchers examined…