Abstract
BACKGROUND: In recent decades, much effort has been made in China to reduce the burden of cervical cancer. OBJECTIVE: Our study's purpose was to examine trends of cervical cancer mortality in each 5-year age group for urban and rural Chinese women, respectively. DESIGNS: Retrospective analysis of cervical cancer mortality from 1987 to 2015 from the World Health Organization Cancer Mortality Database and China Health Statistical Yearbooks. PARTICIPANTS: Chinese women. MAIN MEASURES: Trends were examined using annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) via Joinpoint regression models for each 5-year age group in urban and rural areas, respectively. RESULTS: In urban China, mortality rate of cervical cancer increased significantly among urban women aged 25-54 years (AAPC 2.12~5.49%), in contrast to a decline trend among urban women older than 60 years (AAPC - 3.61~- 5.35%). In rural China, cervical cancer rates declined in all age groups, but the magnitude was smaller in women aged 30-54 years (AAPC - 0.59~- 2.20%) compared to women older than 55 years (AAPC - 3.06~- 4.33%). CONCLUSION: Mortality rate of cervical cancer is rising at an alarming rate in younger women in urban China. Timely intervention is required for these vulnerable populations.