JAMA Oncol

Cervical precancer in adolescence tied to elevated heart risk later in life

February 24, 2026

A nationwide Swedish cohort of nearly 30,000 adolescents and young adults (aged 15-24 years) with cervical high‑grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) showed significantly higher long‑term cardiovascular risk than 149,606 matched controls over more than three decades of follow‑up. Prior HSIL was associated with a 20% higher risk of any CVD, including notably elevated risks of myocardial infarction (MI; 58% higher), heart failure (38% higher), and cerebrovascular disease (42% higher). All‑cause (52%) and cardiovascular mortality (49%) were also higher. Family history of CVD was more common in the HSIL group and independently increased risk. Authors note lifestyle factors common among young women with HPV infection and propose HPV‑related vascular inflammation as a potential—but unproven—mechanism.

Clinical takeaway: For women with a past HSIL diagnosis—especially those diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood—clinicians should incorporate earlier and more vigilant cardiovascular risk assessment and preventive counseling into long‑term follow‑up care.

Source:

Hytting J, et al. (2026, February 19). JAMA Oncol. Cardiovascular Events in Women With Prior Cervical High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41712234/