Global Patterns and Temporal Trends in Ovarian and Uterine Cancer Mortality Attributable to High Body-Mass Index, 1990–2023

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Authors: I. Ilić, Vladimir Jakovljević, Srdjan Lazic, Milena Ilic
Cited by: 5
References: 76

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The risk factors for ovarian and uterine cancer remain insufficiently known. This study aimed to assess global trends in mortality from ovarian and uterine cancer attributable to high body-mass index (BMI) in 1990–2023. Methods: An observational epidemiological study was conducted. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) of mortality were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease study. Trends were evaluated using joinpoint analysis. The Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC, %), with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI), was calculated. Results: Globally, the trend in ASRs of ovarian cancer deaths attributable to high BMI increased significantly (AAPC = +0.4%, 95% CI = 0.3 to 0.5). The growth trend in South Asia (AAPC = +8.7%, 95% CI = 8.1 to 9.2) was 30 times greater than in Eastern Europe (AAPC = +0.3%, 95% CI = 0.1 to 0.5). Declining trends in mortality from ovarian cancer were observed only in Australasia (AAPC = −0.2%, 95% CI = −0.4 to −0.1), High-income North America (AAPC = −0.3%, 95% CI = −0.6 to −0.0), and Western Europe (AAPC = −0.7%, 95% CI = −0.8 to −0.6). For uterine cancer, the global trend of mortality also increased (AAPC = +0.1, 95% CI = 0.0 to 0.2), with the trend growing fastest in South Asia (AAPC = +4.2%, 95% CI = 4.0 to 4.4). Decreasing trends in mortality from uterine cancer due to high BMI were observed only in Central Asia (AAPC = −0.6%, 95% CI = −0.9 to −0.4), East Asia (AAPC = −2.2%, 95% CI = −2.6 to −1.8), and Southern Latin America (AAPC = −0.4%, 95% CI = −0.6 to −0.1). Additionally, an accelerated increase in mortality trends for both ovarian and uterine cancer attributable to high BMI was observed in 2020–2023, which corresponds to the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Further analytical epidemiological studies are required to clarify the relationship between ovarian and uterine cancer and high BMI.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment Cancer Risks and Factors Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments

Publication details

Journal / source
Cancers
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
157–157
Publication date
2 January 2026
Language
EN