Objectives To assess the impact of age as a determining prognostic factor in the survival of women with uterine cervical cancer (UCC).

Methods A retrospective observational study was carried out in which patients who consulted in Oncological Hospital of Buenos Aires, in the period between January 2007 and December 2011. The variables were studied: age and tumor stage. Three age groups were established: patients <35, 35 - 59, and >60. For the analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), the Kaplan-Meier method was used and for the comparison between the different groups, the Log Rank test method using the statistical package IBM Statics Version 21. A statistically significant P value of ≤0.05 was considered.

Results 748 patients were included, of which 145 (19.4%) <35 years, 484 (64.7%) to the group of 35 to 59 years and 119 (15.9%) to >60 years. The median general age was 46 years. The general OS was 59.3% (P=0.04), 48.3%, 63.3% and 57.4% respectively in the groups. The general DFS was 55.5% (P=0.04), in the groups: 45.8%, 59% and 53.6% respectively. The distribution by stages was predominantly locally advanced: IIB 30.6% (229), IIIB 29.5% (221), being statistically significant for OS stages IB2, IIA2, IIB, IIIA and IVA.

Conclusions In addition to the widely known prognostic factors, age also seems to be an important factor, although probably underestimated by current treatment guidelines. There is a population of patients with UCC whose diagnosis at an early age implies an alarming prognosis.