*3.5. Prevalence of E6/E7 mRNA HR HPV Expression According to Age*

The results were categorized according to age categories (≤30, 31–44, ≥45 years) to analyze the prevalence of E6/E7 mRNA HPV in the specific age groups. The lowest percent of E6/E7 mRNA HR HPV 16 was detected in the younger group and the highest percent

HPV DNA

E6/E7 mRNA HPV

was detected in patients over 44 years. A statistically significant difference was observed in patients with E6/E7 mRNA HR HPV 16 expression (χ 2 test; χ <sup>2</sup> = 7.331; *p* = 0.026), wherein individuals with positive E6/E7 mRNA HPV results were older than the others. The detection of E6/E7 mRNA HR HPV 31 and 33 decreases with the increasing age of the patient, while E6/E7 mRNA HR HPV 51 increases (Table 9).


**Table 9.** Analyses of E6/E7 mRNA HPVs according to age.

\* *p <* 0.05. *Diagnostics* **2023**, *13*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 23
