Alcohol consumption and persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus

Alcohol consumption is a possible co-factor of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) persistence, a major step in cervical carcinogenesis, but the association between alcohol and continuous HPV infection remains unclear. This prospective study identified the association between alcohol consumption and HR-HPV persistence. Overall, 9230 women who underwent screening during 2002-2011 at the National Cancer Center, Korea were analysed in multivariate logistic regression. Current drinkers [odds ratio (OR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-4.71] and drinkers for >= 5 years (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.17-4.63) had a higher risk of 2-year HR-HPV persistence (HPV positivity for 3 consecutive years) than non-drinkers and drinkers for <5 years, respectively (vs. HPV negativity for 3 consecutive years). A high drinking frequency (>= twice/week) and a high beer intake (>= 3 glasses/occasion) had higher risks of 1-year (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.01-3.36) HPV positivity for 2 consecutive years) and 2-year HR-HPV persistence (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.35-9.75) than non-drinkers. Of the HPV-positive subjects enrolled, drinking habit (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.10-6.51) and high consumption of beer or soju (>= 2 glasses/occasion; OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.06-7.98) increased the risk of 2-year consecutive or alternate HR-HPV positivity (vs. consecutive HPV negativity). These findings suggest that alcohol consumption might increase the risk of cervical HR-HPV persistence in Korean women.