Is the age of cervical cancer diagnosis changing over time?

The objective of this study was to determine if there has been an increase in the age of diagnosis of cervical cancer over time, specifically in the proportion of patients over 65 years old, given decreasing rates of hysterectomy.

A retrospective review of a single institution was conducted including cervical cancer patients seen between 1986 and 2016. Data included demographic variables including age of diagnosis, last cervical cancer screening, and cancer information. Cochran-Armitage test was used to assess temporal trends in the proportion of patients diagnosed over 65.

A total of 1,019 patients with cervical cancer were reviewed, of whom 116 were over the age of 65. The age of diagnosis increased by 0.2 years per calendar year, with an average age of diagnosis of 43.7 years old in 1986 versus 49.5 years old in 2016 (p<0.01). The proportion of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer over the age of 65 did not significantly differ over time (17.2 % in 1986 vs. 14.8 % in 2016, p=0.39). 19.0 % of women diagnosed with cervical cancer over the age of 65 developed cancer despite exiting screening appropriately.

In our cohort, the age of diagnosis of cervical cancer increased over time, however, there was no significant difference in the percentage of women diagnosed over the age of 65.