Hospitalization burden associated with malignant neoplasia and in situ carcinoma in vulva and vagina during a 5-year period (2009–2013) in Spain: An epidemiological study

BACKGROUND: Vulvar and vaginal cancers are considered rare cancers in women. Human Papillomavirus is responsible for 30–76% of them. The aim of this study was to describe the burden of hospital admissions by malignant neoplasia (MN) and in situ carcinoma (ISC) of vulva and vagina from 2009 to 2013, in Spain METHODS: This observational, descriptive study used discharge information obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data, Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos, CMBD, provided by the Ministry of Health. RESULTS: From 2009–2013, we found 9,896 hospitalizations coded as MN or ISC of vulva and vagina. Mean age of hospitalization was 69.94 ± 15.16 years; average length of hospital stay (ALOS) was 10.02 ± 12.40 days, and mean hospitalization costs were 5,140.31 ± 3,220.61 euros. Mean hospitalization rate was 9.874 per 100,000 women aged >14 years old (95% CI: 9.689–10.058); mean mortality rate was 0.932 per 100,000 women aged >14 years old (95% CI: 0.872–0.991) and mean case fatality rate was 9.438% (95% CI: 8.862–10.014). CONCLUSION: MN and ISC of vulva and vagina are responsible for a considerable hospitalization burden. Information about these hospitalizations could be useful for cost effectiveness analysis and monitoring of HPV vaccination effectiveness.