An insight into ovarian cancer incidence trends in Sri Lanka, 2005-2019

Introduction: The incidence of ovarian cancer is reported to be increasing worldwide especially in the Southeast Asia region. Objectives: To describe the trends in incidence of ovarian cancer in Sri Lanka. Methods: Data on incidence cases of ovarian cancer in Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2019 were obtained from National Cancer Registry, Sri Lanka (NCR-SL). Joinpoint regression analysis was used to examine the incidence trend of age standardized rates (ASR) of ovarian cancer. Results: Data of all 12 220 ovarian cancer patients from 2005 to 2019 were used in the analysis. The age standardized incidence rate of ovarian cancer has an increasing trend from 3 per 100 000 in 2005 to 8.5 per 100 000 in 2019. Most of the cases were diagnosed among the 55-59 year and 65-69-year age groups. Age standardized rates in ovarian cancer from 2005 to 2019 showed a statistically significant annual percent change (APC) of 8.4 (95% CI: 3.2, 13.9). Age specific incidence revealed a statistically significant APC of 2. 7 (95% CI: 3 .0, 3.2) among women more than 49 years of age, whereas the women less than 49 years showed a varying trend which was not statistically significant. Conclusions & Recommendations: It is evident that there is an increasing trend of incidence of ovarian cancer in Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2019 and the increase is mostly seen among women more than 49 years of age. This increase can be due to aging population, increasing risk factors, improved diagnostic facilities and improvement of the reporting system of cancers in Sri Lanka. Further studies should be conducted to ascertain this increase in ovarian cancer.