OVARIAN CANCER INCIDENCE TREND IN THE NIŠAVA DISTRICT

Abstract

Ovarian cancer represents the third most common gynecological cancer worldwide, and the most lethal one. The aim of the study was to assess ovarian cancer incidence trend in the Nišava District in the period 1999-2017. Descriptive epidemiological method was applied. Data used for analyses were provided by the Cancer Register of the Institute of Public Health Niš and from the Serbian Cancer Registry. Incidence trends were based on crude and age-standardized incidence rates, calculated by the direct method of standardization per 100,000. Ovarian cancer represented 5.1% of all new registered malignant diseases in females with a total of 791 new cases. There were no cases of ovarian cancer registered in females before the age of 15. A statistically significant increasing trend with aging was registered. The average annual crude incidence rate was 22.0/100,000, while the average age-standardized incidence rate was 13.3/100,000. The highest age-standardized incidence rate was registered in 2016 (20.4), while the lowest rate was reported in 2002 (10.1). Ovarian cancer incidence trend, based on crude incidence rates, as well as on age-standardized incidence rates, increased. The highest age-adjusted incidence rates were in the municipalities of Svrljig (18.4) and Gadžin Han (14.0) and the lowest in the municipalities of Merošina (7.4) and Doljevac (9.0). Registration of unfavorable incidence trends of the disease indicate failure in the primary and secondary prevention in the past. It is of vital importance to provide more intensive and comprehensive activities that may lead to the reduction of risk factors and to early detection of the disease. Acta Medica Medianae 2021;60(1):13-18.