Epidemiology

According to figures from the World Health Organization, cervical cancer was the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide in 2020, with an estimated 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths.[2]

In Europe, there were an estimated 30,447 new cases of cervical cancer in 2020 and an estimated 13,437 deaths.[3] Cervical cancer ranks 11th among the most frequently occuring cancers in women. Incidence and mortality rates vary across Europe significantly. This wide variation can be explained by differences in human papillomavirus prevalence, and vaccination and screening policies.[3]

In the US, cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are gradually declining.[4] In 2024, there were an estimated 13,820 new cases (0.7% of all new cancer diagnoses), and 4360 deaths.[4] The highest incidence is in Hispanic women (9.8 per 100,000, based on data from 2017 to 2021).[4] Mortality rate is highest in non-Hispanic black women (3.2 per 100,000 persons); overall mortality is 2.2 per 100,000 (based on data from 2018 to 2022).[4] Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in midlife (most frequently in women aged 35-44 years); median age at diagnosis is 50 years.[4]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important aetiological factor. Incidence of cervical cancer correlates with early onset of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, cigarette smoking, immunosuppression (e.g., HIV infection, transplant recipients), low socioeconomic status, poor nutrition, and oral contraceptive use.[5][6][7]​​​[8][9][10][11][12][13]

Effective screening in developed countries has significantly reduced the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.[14] Approximately 50% of diagnoses in the developed world occur in women who have never been screened or have not been screened in the 5 years preceding diagnosis.[15] Further reductions in incidence have been reported in countries with established HPV vaccination programmes.[16][17][18][19][20][21]

Nearly 90% of deaths worldwide from cervical cancer are in low- and middle-income countries. Without vaccination, the expected number of cervical cancer cases among girls born between 2005 and 2014 is estimated to be 11.6 million, with approximately 75% of the burden in 25 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia.[22] Many of these countries have a high prevalence of HIV infection, which increases the risk of cervical cancer.[23]

The World Health Organization has launched a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, aiming to improve access to vaccination, screening, and treatment.[24]

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