Analysis of the disease burden trend of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system in China from 2006 to 2020

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumors of reproductive system seriously threaten women’s life and health. We analyzed the changes in mortality and disease burden of cervical cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer in China from 2006 to 2020 to provide a basis for formulating scientific prevention and control measures. METHODS: Annual death data for cervical cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer were collected from the Chinese Cause of Death Surveillance. The crude mortality rate (CMR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), annual percentage change (APC), and average APC (AAPC) were applied to analyze the trend of mortality. Loss of life expectancy (LLE) and years of life lost (YLL) were used to assess disease burden. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2020, there was no significant change in the total ASMR and standardized YLL rates of malignant tumors of the reproductive system, leading to an average LLE of 0.18 years. The YLL rate was the highest in the 55–59 age group. The mortality rate and disease burden of the three types of cancer have changed from uterine cancer higher than cervical cancer and ovarian cancer in 2006 to cervical cancer higher than ovarian cancer and uterine cancer in 2020. The ASMR and standardized YLL rate of uterine cancer showed a downward trend, and AAPC was − 5.21% (− 9.31% ~ − 0.91%) and − 6.07% (− 9.45% ~ − 2.58%), respectively. The mortality rates of cervical cancer and ovarian cancer remain high. CONCLUSION: The mortality and disease burden of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system in China are still at a high level. It is necessary to improve screening and prevention strategies as soon as possible, improve the techniques of diagnosis and treatment, and take adequate measures to protect women's life and health. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-022-02104-2.