Trends in cervical cancer: A decade‑long analysis of incidence, survival and demographic disparities in a Northern Italian province.

While cervical cancer is relatively uncommon in Western countries, it continues to pose significant concern due to its high mortality rates. Intraepithelial forms [cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and CIN 3] are more prevalent in regions with comprehensive screening coverage, particularly in areas that use the Papanicolaou test and HPV detection. The present study aims to characterize the trends of precancerous lesions and infiltrating tumors over a decade, assessing survival rates by age, stage and country of origin. A total of 1,752 CIN 2/3 lesions and 152 infiltrating cancers were recorded in the Reggio Emilia Cancer Registry between January 2008 and December 2018. A clear increase in CIN 2/3 lesions was observed over the years while infiltrating tumors remained rare and the numbers of cancer cases declined. The 5-year survival rate was found to be 67%, with survival closely correlated with stage (88, 82, 74 and 12% for stages I, II, III and IV, respectively) and age (84, 80 and 37% for ages <40, 40-65 and 65+, respectively). Multivariable analysis confirmed an excess risk for advanced stages III (HR 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.3) and IV (HR 19.6; 95% CI, 8.2-46.7), as well as in women 65+ (HR 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-8.1). Analysis of national origins revealed comparable stage distribution for Italians and non-Italians at stage I (41 vs. 47%), while a notable disparity emerged for stage IV (28 vs. 6%). This difference could be attributed to the average age of Italians compared to non-Italians (59 vs. 49 years). Overall, the present study underscored the importance of continued surveillance and intervention strategies targeting advanced-stage disease, particularly in older populations and among non-Italian patients. Efforts to enhance screening coverage and access to timely interventions remain critical in reducing the burden of cervical cancer and improving survival outcomes.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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