Regional differences in incidence, mortality, and long-term survival of ovarian cancer and their trends in Germany. Evidence from the German Centre for Cancer Registry data

Abstract

What are current regional socioeconomic differences in incidence, mortality, and long-term survival of ovarian cancer and their time trends in Germany?

Ovarian cancer has a lower prevalence compared to breast cancer, but is three times more fatal because the majority of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in a poor prognosis. This is due to the asymptomatic and latent growth of the tumor, the atypical and delayed onset of symptoms, and the lack of appropriate screening, leading to diagnosis at advanced stages. Over the last two decades, the incidence and mortality rate of ovarian cancer in Germany has continued to decrease significantly. However, there are regional differences in cancer incidence. Previous studies have shown that between 2010 and 2013, 7.3% more men in socioeconomically weaker regions of Germany developed cancer than in more wealthy regions (Hoebel et al., 2018). Specific evidence on the variation in trends by socioeconomic deprivation and whether these trends have led to narrowing and widening socioeconomic inequalities in ovarian cancer incidence and mortality in Germany is lacking. The aim of the present study is to describe and understand these socioeconomic differences in key epidemiologic indicators of ovarian cancer in Germany. For this purpose, we will link cancer registry data with the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (GISD), an index measuring relative area-based socioeconomic deprivation.

1. To describe the characteristics of women affected by ovarian cancer.

2. To determine the regional socioeconomic differences of ovarian cancer incidence, mortality, and long-term survival of women with ovarian cancer and their trends in Germany using the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (GISD).

3. To describe the regional differences of ovarian cancer by age and stages of diagnosis of ovarian cancer.