HPV-Associated Cancers Rates by Race and Ethnicity

The rate of people getting HPV-associated cancers varies by race and ethnicity.

"Incidence rate" means how many people out of a given number get the disease each year. Incidence rates of HPV-associated cancers varied by sex and race or ethnic group.*

• Overall, Asian and Pacific Islander men and women had lower rates of HPV-associated cancers than white men and women.
• Black and Hispanic women had higher rates of HPV-associated cervical cancer than white women.
• Black women also appeared to have higher rates of HPV-associated vaginal cancer.
• Black men and women appeared to have higher rates of HPV-associated cancers of the oropharynx and oral cavity.
• Hispanic men had higher rates of HPV-associated penile cancer than non-Hispanic men.

*Based on a large study that covered 83% of the U.S. population during 1998–2003, and may under-represent the actual number of cancers diagnosed during this time period. Also, this study used cancer registry data to estimate the amount of potentially HPV-associated cancer in the United States by examining cancer in parts of the body and cancer cell types that are more likely to be caused by HPV. Cancer registries do not collect data on the presence or absence of HPV in cancer tissue at the time of diagnosis. However, nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

For detail on individual cancers, see topics on the left.

Reference

Assessing the Burden of HPV-Associated Cancers in the United States (ABHACUS). Cancer 2008;113(S10).