ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1633894
This article is part of the Research TopicEquity in Cancer Prevention and Early DetectionView all 3 articles
Analysis from the GBD 2021 Study
Provisionally accepted
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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Objective: This study evaluates global burden, disparities, and trends of female cancers (breast, cervical, uterine, ovarian) from 1990 to 2021, and identifies key contributing factors and intervention strategies.Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD,1990(GBD, -2021) ) Study and recent reports were analyzed to assess incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across 204 countries stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI).. Regression and spatiotemporal analyses explored links with risk factors (e.g., obesity, HPV) and healthcare access.Results: Breast cancer dominated the burden, with age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) rising by 28% (2.08 million new cases in 2021), driven by lifestyle factors (high BMI, alcohol use) and showing a strong connection with higher SDI (r=0.82).showing a strong negative correlation with SDI(r = -0.75), though Age-Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) declined globally (-1.4% annual change). Uterine cancer incidence rose steadily (0.7% annual increase; 473,614 cases in 2021), primarily attributable to obesity, while ovarian cancer mortality remained high (207,000 deaths) due to late diagnosis. Key modifiable risks included HPV infection (85% of cervical cancers), tobacco use, and reproductive behaviors.The global burden of female cancers presents a significant public health challenge. Disparities in female cancer burden reflect inequities in healthcare access and rising metabolic risks. Priority actions include HPV vaccination, low-cost screening, and obesity control. Equity-focused, data-informed policies are crucial to reduce global disparities.
Keywords: female cancers, Health Disparities, breast cancer, cervical cancer, Global health equity. ASIR, age-standardized incidence rate, ASMR, age tandardized mortality rate, SDI, Socio-Demographic Index
Received: 23 May 2025; Accepted: 21 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Mao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Yun Mao, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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