Estimating the Burden of Illness Related to Genital Warts in Russia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

**Background:** Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the etiologic agents of genital warts (GW). HPV is one of the most frequent sexually transmitted viral infections, and nearly 65% of individuals with partners who have GW also develop GW. In Russia, as in many other countries, overall GW prevalence data are scarce. Given the lack of Russian data, our study estimated GW prevalence in physician practices and GW-related health care resource use in Russia among male and female patients aged 18–60 years. **Methods:** Russian physicians recorded daily patient logs for a two-week period and conducted a 30-minute survey to estimate GW prevalence and related resource use between January and June 2012. Age, gender, and GW diagnosis status was recorded. Prevalence was obtained for each physician and calculated into a single estimate across all physician types. Overall prevalence estimate and 95% confidence interval were weighted by the estimated number of physicians in each specialty and the proportion of total patients visiting each specialist type. Health care resource use was reported and compared among different physician specialties. **Results:** The overall GW prevalence estimate was 9162 cases per 100 000 for male and female patients aged 18–60 years, with 9917 for obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYN), 8298 for urologists (URO), and 7833 for dermatologists (DERM). For males, GW prevalence was 8769 cases per 100 000, with the highest prevalence in the 30–34 age group. In females, GW prevalence was 9304 cases per 100 000, with the highest prevalence in the 18–24 age group. Among overall existing GW cases, 63.1% were recurrent and 34.2% were resistant. For all patients in our study, GW prevalence was higher in females. Male patients had the highest prevalence for those aged 30–34 years, and female patients for those aged 18–24 years. These results are consistent with data reported in other countries. Study limitations include estimates and results representative of the urban population of Russia. Despite its limitations, this study provides a GW prevalence estimate in Russia not previously available. **Conclusions:** GW is a significant public health concern in Russia, and the GW prevalence was higher in female patients compared to male patients.