The Burden of Gynecologic Cancers in the UAE

Abstract

There is limited published data about gynecological cancers in the UAE. The latest cancer registry data published in 2020 for the 2017 reports a total of 7% (301/4299 ) out of the total cases of all cancer among the UAE population. The most diagnosed gynecologic cancers were uterine, cervix uteri and ovarian cancer, which ranked 5th, 6th, and 8th, respectively among all female malignant cancers in the UAE. There were 111 cases of uterus cancer, which accounted for 4.93% of all cancer cases among females, diagnosed in 2017. Due to various well-structured programs in the UAE for cervical cancer prevention, including implementation of HPV vaccination for females, aged 15-26 years and screening with a pap test for women 25-65 years, regardless of their HPV vaccination status. The rate of carcinoma in situ of cervix uteri in the UAE has declined by over 50% (from 81 cases in 2015 to 38 cases in 2017). There were 70 cases of ovarian cancer, accounted for 3.11% of all cancer cases among females, diagnosed in 2017. The highest number of ovarian cancer cases has been reported in the age group of 50-54. The malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri makes up to 1.9% of the total deaths (ranked 6th), caused by cancer in the UAE population, in 2017. Currently, the gynecology cancer research in the UAE is very limited. There is a need for initiation of gynecology specific working groups to facilitate the research in this area with focus on prevention, early diagnosis, and screening specific to the UAE population.