Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted
viral diseases. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the purpose
of clinically and epidemiologically characterizing anal HPV infection in patients
who attended the Benign Orificial Pathology Consultation of the Coloproctological
Unit at the Dr. “Antonio María Pineda” Central University Hospital, during the period
March 2022 - February 2023, by selecting 288 patients whose average age was 47.09 ± 14.61
years, being the 41-50 years old group (29.17%) and the 51-60 years old group (19.44%)
the most affected groups by pathologies of the anal region, with a predominance of
male (54.17%). The sociodemographic characteristics with the highest frequency included
married (48.61%) and single (47.22%); secondary level of education (44.44%) and traders
(18.05%) and housewives (15, 28%) as predominant occupations. The risk factors were
represented by onset of sexual intercourse between 16-20 years of age (65.28%), heterosexuality
(91.67%), 22.22% reported having anal sex and 5.56% oral sex. Likewise, 5.56% were
reported with a history of genital HPV and 4.17% were HIV positive. In addition, 48.61%
stated not to use condoms. The initial clinical diagnosis included hemorrhoidal disease
(30.55%), anal fistula (25%) and anal fissure (18.05%), and one patient (1.39%) with
anal HPV infection. Anal cytology results showed 8.33% flat epithelial cells with
cytopathic changes suggestive of HPV infection and 1.39% squamous cells with cytopathic
changes suggestive of HPV infection: 50% mild inflammatory negative for malignancy
and 33.33% flat epithelial cells without atypia. In conclusion, the anal cytology
investigation should continue to determine the actual frequency of anal HPV infection.
Keywords Human Papilloma Virus - anal infection - epidemiological characteristics - clinical
characteristics - anal cytology
