Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been established as a cause of invasive cervical cancer. However, HPV is predominantly transient and only a minority of cases persist and progress clinically. Certain epidemiological factors have been suggested to increase the risk of HPV persistence and progression. In the present study, 893 women were investigated, with an age range from 25 to 60 years old. PAP smears and colposcopy were used for assessment. Of these women, 108 were diagnosed with squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and were further divided into high‑grade SIL (HSIL) and low‑grade SIL (LSIL). The dietary habits, sleep patterns and gynecological histories of these participants were studied, and it was found that the probability of having <3 meals a day [odds ratio (OR), 4.35; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.73‑10.95], having an unbalanced diet (OR, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.44‑10.55), breakfast skipping (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 2.40‑16.61) and disrupted sleep (OR, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.79‑10.93) was significantly higher in the HSIL group compared with the probability in the LSIL group. In addition, participants who had pregnancies prior to the age of 20 were 2.85 times more likely to have more advanced disease (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.22‑6.71). Cervical erosion was higher in the HSIL group compared with that in the LSIL group (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.36‑6.96). The present study highlights the protective effects of meal numbers, nutritious diet and sleep hygiene against HPV and the progression of SIL.

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