Cervical Cancer Incidence in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• The World Health Organization aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health concern.
• Accurate cervical cancer incidence data are vital for monitoring progress and guiding cancer control strategies.
• Such data are currently lacking for the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI).

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate age-standardized cervical cancer incidence rates for the 6 USAPI.
• To compare these rates with those in the United States (US).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing population-based data from the Pacific Regional Central Cancer Registry (2007-2020).
• Inclusion criteria: women aged 20+ diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer.
• Analysis involved calculating age-standardized incidence rates and rate ratios using various population estimates.

Main Results:

• Cervical cancer incidence rates in USAPI ranged from 21.7 to 22.1 per 100,000 women.
• The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) exhibited the highest rates, significantly exceeding US rates.
• A majority of cases (68.2%) in USAPI were diagnosed at late stages.

Conclusions:

• Cervical cancer represents a significant public health issue in certain USAPI, with RMI showing the highest incidence.
• Late-stage diagnosis is common, highlighting challenges in early detection.
• Tailored interventions focusing on HPV vaccination and screening are recommended to mitigate the cervical cancer burden in the USAPI.