Years of Potential Life Lost Due to Cervical Cancer: A Challenge for Hungarian Screening Strategy

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer is among the most commonly cancer worldwide and it is a leading cause of deaths among females in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the years of potential life lost (YPLL) as an indicator of premature deaths as a result of cervical cancer.

METHODS: Data were derived from the Hungarian “PULVITA” database for the years 2010-2020, in an inpatient care setting. The items of inpatient care (patient numbers, case numbers) were determined based on coding position 3 (main diagnosis justifying care). Malignant neoplasm of the cervix was identified by ICD 10^th revision code C53.9. Population numbers according to age groups are from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. On the basis of each individual’s age at death, YPLL was estimated for females between 15 and 70 years of age. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequencies) and 95%CI were calculated.

RESULTS: 13,964 years of life has been lost due to cervical cancer between 2010-2020 among females aged 15-70 years. The average number of YPLL was 1,269.45 per year. The highest amount was detected in 2015, followed by a slight decrease afterwards. 1,019 YPLL could be counted in 2020, which gives 28.09/100,000 population, regarding the number of all females aged 15-70 years (3,627,686 persons). 61 15-70 years old female lost her life in that year due to this disease. Their mean age was 53.29 years (95%CI[51.02;55.56]). The majority of deaths occured among females within 45-59 years of age (54%).

CONCLUSIONS: The risk of death due to cervical cancer - potentially preventable - increases as age increases. The measures to prevent cervical cancer are available and easy to perform by the Hungarian public health system. However, mortality from these diseases remains high. Thus, a reevaluation of the adopted preventive strategies is required.