High-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), a well-known cause of cervical cancer, may put women at a higher risk of dying from heart disease, according to a recent study published in the European Heart Journal. The study involved over 163,000 young and middle-aged Korean women without heart disease who were screened for high-risk HPV during a national health exam and followed up for up to 17 years.
After adjusting for other factors that impact heart disease risk, researchers discovered that women infected with high-risk HPV were four times more likely to die from heart disease than those without the infection. However, further research, including studies involving men, is necessary to confirm these findings.
The researchers speculate that viral infections can lead to inflammation, which plays a significant role in heart disease development. Vaccines against HPV are highly effective in preventing cervical cancer; future studies could examine whether these vaccines also have an impact on heart-related outcomes.
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