Alcohol Consumption and Persistent Infection of High Risk-Human Papillomavirus

INTRODUCTION:  Few studies have evaluated relationships between alcohol and cervical high risk-human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) persistence. This prospective study aimed to identify associations between alcohol consumption and HR-HPV persistence which causes cervical intraepithelial and cervical carcinogenesis.

METHODS:  Overall, 9,230 women who underwent health screening during 2001–2011 at the National Cancer Center, Korea, and participated in HR-HPV DNA tests using Hybrid Capture II method and the questionnaires including questions related to alcohol consumption were analyzed for alcohol consumption behaviors and HR-HPV persistence in a multivariate logistic regression analysis using statistical software packages.

RESULTS:  Drinkers (OR, 95% CI: 1.56, 1.09–2.24) and drinkers for ≥ 5 years (2.33, 1.17–4.63) had a higher 2-year consecutive HR-HPV persistence risk than non-drinkers and drinkers for < 5 years, respectively, with 2-year HR-HPV negative reference. A high drinking frequency (≥ twice/week) and beer intake (≥ 3 glasses/occasion) led to a higher risk (3.62. 1.35−9.75) relative to non-drinkers. Furthermore, drinking (2.68, 1.10−6.51) and a high beer or soju (≥ 2 glasses/occasion: 2.90, 1.06−7.98) increased the risk of 2-year consecutive or alternative HR-HPV-positivity after enrollment with HR-HPV infection versus the clearance reference. At enrollment, drinkers (OR: 1.21), frequent drinkers (1.31), drinkers for ≥ 5 years (1.20), and larger-quantity drinkers (p < 0.001 for beer, 0.006 for soju) had higher HPV infection risks than non-drinkers.

CONCLUSIONS:  Moderate alcohol consumption might increase cervical HR-HPV persistence in Korean women.