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Original research
Pregnancy-associated cancers: frequency and temporal trends in Italy
  1. Fabio Parazzini1,
  2. Angiolo Gadducci2,
  3. Ettore Cicinelli3,
  4. Tiziano Maggino4,
  5. Fedro Peccatori5,
  6. Giovanna Scarfone1,
  7. Elena Roncella6,
  8. Giovanni Scambia7,
  9. Paolo Zola8 and
  10. Enrico Sartori9
  1. 1 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
  2. 2 Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
  3. 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, 'Aldo Moro' University of Bari, Bari, Italy
  4. 4 Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dell'Angelo Hospital, Mestre, Italy
  5. 5 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
  6. 6 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology, University of Milan, La Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore di Milano Policlinico, Milan, Italy
  7. 7 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
  8. 8 Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
  9. 9 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Dr Elena Roncella, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology, University of Milan, La Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore di Milano Policlinico, Milano 20122, Italy; elenaroncella87{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objective Limited data are available on the frequency and time trends of pregnancy-associated cancers, particularly from Southern European countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency and time trends of pregnancy-associated cancer in Italy.

Methods This was a population-based linkage study using the regional hospital discharge forms database of four Italian regions with more than 17 million inhabitants. All resident women with a hospital discharge form reporting a birth or abortion in the time period under consideration were identified. The time period of the study was 2003–2015 for the Piemonte and Puglia region, 2006–2015 for the Tuscany region, and 2005–2015 for the Veneto region. Risk of developing a pregnancy-associated cancer was calculated as the ratio of the number of pregnancy-related cancers to the total number of pregnancies.

Results A total of 2 297 648 pregnancies were identified. Overall, the pregnancy-associated cancer frequency was 134.8 per 100 000 pregnancies: the frequency ranged from 127.1 in Puglia to 157.3 in Tuscany. The frequency for 100 000 pregnancies was 66.4 in women aged <30 years; the risk increased with age, with a frequency of 275.6 among women aged 40+ years. Approximately two-thirds of cancers were associated with pregnancies resulting in a delivery and one-third with pregnancies resulting in a termination of pregnancy or spontaneous pregnancy loss. No clear trend emerged in the risk of pregnancy-associated cancer per 100 000 pregnancies and calendar year.

Conclusion No clear time trend was observed in the frequency of pregnancy-associated cancers in Italy during the last 10 years, the rates being 104, 164, and 130 per 100 000 pregnancies, respectively, in 2003, 2010, and 2015.

  • pregnancy
  • cancer trend

https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2019-000828

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    Footnotes

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    • Contributors All authors contributed to the design and conduct of this study.

    • Funding This study was conducted within the framework of the Progetti di Ricerca di Interesse Nazionale (PRIN) project.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.