Global burden, trends, and attributable risk factors of women's cancers with projection to 2050: Results from the GLOBOCAN 2022 and global burden of disease study 2021.

BACKGROUND

The global burden of women's cancers has changed in recent decades; however, a comprehensive epidemiological analysis is still absent. This study aims to estimate the burden, trends, and associated risk factors of women's cancers.

METHODS

Data on the incidence and mortality of women's cancers, including breast, cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers, were retrieved from GLOBOCAN 2022 and the Global Burden of Disease 2021. The estimated annual percent change was calculated to assess trends from 1990 to 2021, and Bayesian age-period-cohort models were used to project the incidence and mortality trends to 2050. Cross-country inequalities in women's cancers were analyzed based on data from 204 countries.

RESULTS

In 2022, there were 3.7 million new cases and 1.3 million deaths from women's cancers globally. Breast cancer represented the highest proportion, with 2,295,720 incident cases and 665,675 deaths, followed by cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers. The age-standardized incidence rate of women's cancers has risen in recent decades and is projected to reach 83.7 per 100,000 by 2050. The age-standardized mortality rate for women's cancers has shown a downward trend since 1990 and is expected to decline further, reaching 25.3 per 100,000 by 2050. High socio-demographic index (SDI) level regions bore a greater burden of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers, while cervical cancer was more prevalent in low-SDI regions. Additionally, the cancer burden was higher among elderly women. Unsafe sexual practices are the leading risk factor for cervical cancer, dietary risks for breast cancer, and high body mass index for uterine and ovarian cancers.

CONCLUSION

Women's cancers pose a significant global health burden, with pronounced geographical and age-related disparities. Targeting modifiable risk factors and enhancing healthcare access, especially in low-SDI regions, is essential to reducing the worldwide burden of women's cancers.