Prevalence of different subtypes of HPV infection among patients with normal cervical cytology smears in a maternity hospital in Kuwait.

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major public health concern and the primary cause of cervical cancer worldwide. Understanding the regional distribution of HPV subtypes is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies. Objective: To determine the distribution of HPV subtypes among Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti populations in the state of Kuwait and evaluate any significant differences in subtype prevalence between these groups. Methods: : A cross-sectional study was conducted analyzing HPV testing results from 234 patients (190 Kuwaiti and 44 non-Kuwaiti) at a tertiary healthcare center in Kuwait. HPV genotyping was performed to identify specific subtypes, and statistical analysis was conducted to compare the distribution between nationalities using chi-square tests. Results: : The study identified 36 different HPV subtypes, with HPV-53 (16.24%), HPV-42 (15.38%), HPV-6 (14.96%), HPV-16 (14.53%), and HPV-54 (13.68%) being the most prevalent. Among these, 19 were classified as high-risk.and 17 as low-risk. The distribution analysis between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti populations showed no statistically significant differences in subtype prevalence (p>0.05 for all comparisons). High-risk HPV types were found in both population groups, with HPV-53 being the most common high-risk type. Conclusion: This study reveals a unique pattern of HPV subtype distribution in Kuwait, differing from global patterns where HPV-16 and HPV-18 typically predominate. The lack of significant differences between nationalities suggests that demographic factors may not strongly influence HPV subtype distribution in this population. These findings have important implications for vaccination strategies and screening programs in Kuwait and the broader Gulf region.