Global patterns and temporal trends in ovarian cancer morbidity, mortality, and burden from 1990 to 2019

Abstract Objectives Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecological cancer in the world. Deeper knowledge over time is the basis for global studies to design and implement effective measures to reduce inequalities; this study was conducted to investigate the trend of OC incidence and management in the world from 1990 to 2019. Methods We obtained crude numbers and age-standardized rate (ASRs) of OC annually from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study to examine OC’s morbidity, mortality rates, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) based on age group, sociodemographic index (SDI), WHO regions, continents, World Bank regions, and GBD regions from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and territories. The relative change (%) and average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) were used to display the epidemiological trend. Results Globally, the number of OC incidents increased from 141,706 in 1990 to 294,422 in 2019. Despite the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) in regions with high SDI having a downward trend, these areas recorded the highest incidence cases and ASIR in 2019. Although the World Bank high-income level had the most frequent incidence cases and ASIR, the ASIR in these regions decreased from 1990 to 2019. Among the continents, Europe and America have the highest ASIR but experienced a decreasing trend from 1990 until 2019 in ASIR. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) in the World Bank high-income level experienced a decreasing trend in 1990–2019. In contrast, in the middle, low-middle, and low SDI regions, the death number increased approximately 3.5–4.1 times, and the ASMR had a significant increase from 0.5 in the middle to 0.75 in the low-middle SDI. Globally, the DALY cases of OC rose from 2,732,666 in 1990 to 5,359,737 in 2019; almost doubling. A significant decrease in the DALYs ASR was observed in seven GBD regions. The most pronounced decrease was found in Australia. Conclusions The trend of OC incidence and burden and approximate mortality were stable from 1990 to 2019; especially in lower socioeconomic areas and low-income countries; while the incidence ASR of this cancer in the high SDI regions decreased from 1990 to 2019. The key to reducing OC remains in primary prevention. Approaches such as weight loss, a healthy lifestyle and diet, promoting childbearing and breastfeeding, and recommending the use of oral contraceptives in eligible individuals can have a protective effect against this silent killer.