ACC

ACC 2025: HPV infection linked to increased heart disease risk

March 31, 2025

HPV-positive patients had a 40% higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and twice the risk of developing coronary artery disease compared with HPV-negative patients, according to findings from a meta-analysis to be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session.

Researchers pooled data from seven studies conducted between 2011 and 2024, involving nearly 250,000 patients, and examined the association between HPV infection and cardiovascular outcomes. Even after adjusting for confounding variables such as smoking, diabetes, and other known heart disease risk factors, HPV-positive patients still had a 33% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with patients without HPV. No statistically significant association was found with high blood pressure.

These findings suggest that HPV infection may be a significant risk factor for heart disease, potentially due to chronic inflammation. Clinicians may consider closer heart monitoring for patients with HPV and explore the potential benefits of HPV vaccination in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Source:

(2025, March 25). American College of Cardiology. Growing Body of Evidence Links HPV with Heart Disease. [Press release]. https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2025/03/25/10/19/Growing-Body-of-Evidence-Links-HPV-with-Heart-Disease