Trends in cervical cancer mortality in korea 1993–2002: Corrected mortality using national death certification data and national cancer incidence data

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a major health problem for Korean women, accounting for 9.8% of new female cancer cases, even though incidence rates have been decreasing. The Korean cervical cancer mortality rate for 1993-2002 based on National Statistical Office data shows an increasing trend, but the actual rates are thought to have decreased by epidemiologists, clinicians and other cancer experts. To explain this gap and solve this problem, we corrected the number of cervical cancer deaths by comparing death certificate cases of unspecified uterine cancer data with the national cancer incidence databases of entire cancer registries in Korea. We used 2 different methods to make a correction. First, we considered ''uterus, unspecified'' deaths previously registered as ''cervix, uterine'' cases misclassified and added them to the cervical cancer deaths. Alternatively, we multiplied the total number of registered unspecified uterine cancer deaths by age-specific proportions of registered incident cervical cancer cases among all cancers and added the product to cervical cancer deaths. The overall corrected age-standardized cervical cancer mortality rates per 100,000 women decreased from 5.2 in 1993 to 3.9 in 2002 (estimated annual percentage change (EAPC): 24.05%, 95% CI: 24.88, 23.22). While cervical cancer mortality showed a decreasing tendency in women aged 30-69 years, it increased substantially in women aged 70 years (EAPC: 3.62%, 95% CI: 1.92-5.35). Results of this study will provide evidence-based foundation for the evaluation of the existing cervical cancer-screening programs. ' 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Trends in gynecologic cancer mortality in East Asian regions

“…In some European countries, over 70% of deaths from uterine cancer were allotted to "uterus unspecified" during 1960; however, this proportion had reduced to 30% by around 1995 [14]. In Korea, a proportion of classification of "uterus, unspecified" has decreased from 69.1% of uterine cancer deaths in 1993 to 18.4% of uterine cancer deaths in 2002 [17]. We corrected the counts of cervical cancer and uterine corpus cancer deaths by referencing NCIDB in Korea.…”

“…Analogous methods were applied to obtain a corrected estimate of uterine corpus deaths. The details of this correction procedure have been described in a previous report [17]. As the personal identification number used for data was deleted, this study did not require the ethical approval of the Institutional Review Board.…”

Common polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene are associated with risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer in women with low serum folate and vitamin B12

“…In 2002, cervical cancer was the fourth most common malignant disease in Korean women, accounting for 9.8% of all new cancer cases [2].…”

The effects of polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), methionine synthase (MTR), and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) on the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer in Korean women

“…Although the incidence of uterine cervical cancer has been decreasing in Korea because of the increased availability of screening tests, it is the fourth most common malignant disease in Korean women, accounting for 9.8% of total malignancies in 2002 [1].…”