Increasing Cervical Cancer Rates Among Women Age 35-54 Years in Canada: Age-Specific Cervical Cancer Incidence Trends in Canada, 1992-2022.

PURPOSE

The vast majority of cervical cancer is preventable through human papillomavirus vaccination and screening with cytology or DNA testing. After decades of progress, recent cervical cancer trends in Western populations show a plateau or modest increase in incidence rates. Further investigation is required to understand the drivers of these emerging trends. In this study, we examined age-specific cervical cancer incidence rates in Canada from 1992 to 2022.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Canadian Cancer Registry maintained by Statistics Canada, which included cancer cases, population counts, and incidence rates of cervical cancer by age and province for the period 1992 to 2022. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to estimate temporal incidence trends across age groups.

RESULTS

Cervical cancer incidence rates in Canada decreased among women age 25-34 years and those 65 years and older since 1992. Incidence rates among women age 35-44 years and 45-54 years have increased by 1.1% (95% CI, 0.5 to 2.5) and 1.6% (95% CI, -0.1 to 8.6) per year since 2001 and 2012, respectively. In 2022, the highest incidence rate of cervical cancer was among women age 35-44 years (18.1 per 100,000 women), which is comparable with rates in 1992.

CONCLUSION

Cervical cancer incidence rates have been increasing in recent years among women age 35-54 years. This cohort may be falling into a cancer prevention gap. Targeted public health interventions are warranted to address the rising incidence of cervical cancer among this cohort of Canadian women.