Women and girls aged 15 to 24 years old have decreased cervical cancer incidence and mortality after the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to a research letter published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Tara Tabibi, from the St. Louis University School of Medicine, and colleagues obtained national age-adjusted cervical cancer incidence and mortality data from January 2001 through December 2017 for women and girls aged 15 to 39 years old.
In addition, quasi-experimental analyses were conducted comparing percentage changes in incidence and mortality from January 2001 through December 2005 (prevaccination) to January 2010 through December 2017 (postvaccination) for those aged 15 to 24, 25 to 29, and 30 to 39 years old.
The researchers found that for the groups aged 15 to 24, 25 to 29, and 30 to 39 years old, cervical cancer incidence rates were 0.68, 5.47, and 12.60 per 100,000, respectively, and mortality rates were 0.06, 0.57, and 1.89 per 100,000, respectively, from January 2001 through December 2017. From 2001-2005 to 2010-2017, the decreases in cervical cancer incidence and mortality were greater among those aged 15 to 24 years old than those aged 25 to 29 and 30 to 39 years old.
“The current study adds to the medical literature by quantitatively comparing changes in cervical cancer incidence by age-based vaccine eligibility and providing suggestive evidence for vaccine-associated decreases in cervical cancer mortality,” the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
