TY - JOUR
T1 - An overview of cervical cancer epidemiology and prevention in the Baltic States
AU - Kojalo, Una
AU - Tisler, Anna
AU - Parna, Kersti
AU - Kivite-Urtane, Anda
AU - Zodzika, Jana
AU - Stankunas, Mindaugas
AU - Baltzer, Nicholas
AU - Nygard, Mari
AU - Uuskula, Anneli
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported through grant EMP416 from the EEA (European Economic Area) and Norway Grants.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - AIMS: To inform future Baltic States-specific policy analyses, we aimed to provide an overview of cervical cancer epidemiology and existing prevention efforts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.METHODS: A structured desk review: we compiled and summarized data on current prevention strategies, population demography and epidemiology (high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and cervical cancer incidence and mortality over time) for each Baltic State by reviewing published literature and official guidelines, performing registry-based analyses using secondary data and having discussions with experts in each country.RESULTS: We observed important similarities in the three Baltic States: high burden of the disease (high incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, changes in TNM (Classification of Malignant Tumors) stage distribution towards later stage at diagnosis), high burden of high-risk HPV in general population and suboptimal implementation of the preventive strategies as low screening and HPV vaccination coverage.CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cancer remains a substantial health problem in the region and the efforts in addressing barriers by implementing a four-step plan for elimination cervical cancer in Europe should be made. This goal is achievable through evidence-based steps in four key areas: vaccination, screening, treatment, and public awareness.
AB - AIMS: To inform future Baltic States-specific policy analyses, we aimed to provide an overview of cervical cancer epidemiology and existing prevention efforts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.METHODS: A structured desk review: we compiled and summarized data on current prevention strategies, population demography and epidemiology (high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and cervical cancer incidence and mortality over time) for each Baltic State by reviewing published literature and official guidelines, performing registry-based analyses using secondary data and having discussions with experts in each country.RESULTS: We observed important similarities in the three Baltic States: high burden of the disease (high incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, changes in TNM (Classification of Malignant Tumors) stage distribution towards later stage at diagnosis), high burden of high-risk HPV in general population and suboptimal implementation of the preventive strategies as low screening and HPV vaccination coverage.CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cancer remains a substantial health problem in the region and the efforts in addressing barriers by implementing a four-step plan for elimination cervical cancer in Europe should be made. This goal is achievable through evidence-based steps in four key areas: vaccination, screening, treatment, and public awareness.
KW - Cervical cancer
KW - Human papillomavirus
KW - Prevention
UR - https://www-webofscience-com.db.rsu.lv/wos/alldb/full-record/MEDLINE:37029357
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151956741&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/23df6039-6219-3794-b8fb-d6b2984802dc/
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-023-15524-y
DO - 10.1186/s12889-023-15524-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 37029357
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 23
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
IS - 1
M1 - 660
ER -
