Changing patterns of cervical cancer in Uzbekistan: national trends from 2010 to 2024, age-specific patterns and initial findings from the 2025 National Cancer Registry

Background Cervical cancer remains an important public health concern in Uzbekistan. This study assessed long-term incidence and mortality trends, including age-specific patterns, and described initial clinicopathological and data-quality characteristics from the National Cancer Registry during its first year of nationwide operation. Methods Nationwide cervical cancer incidence and mortality data for 2010–2024 were obtained from official state statistical reports. Individual-level registry data for 2025 were analyzed separately. Crude and age-standardized rates (ASRs) were calculated per 100,000 women. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint Regression Program version 6.1.0, with annual percentage changes (APCs), average annual percentage changes (AAPCs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results During 2010–2024, 23,673 new cervical cancer cases and 12,390 deaths were recorded. Crude incidence increased from 8.7 to 10.8 per 100,000 women (APC 1.79%; 95% CI 1.16–2.43; p < 0.001), whereas age-standardized incidence remained stable during 2016–2024 (APC 0.25%; 95% CI − 1.79 to 2.37; p = 0.764). Incidence declined among women aged 18–44 years but increased among those aged 45–64 and ≥ 65 years, with the largest increase in the oldest group. Crude mortality showed no significant overall change during 2010–2024 (AAPC 0.46%; 95% CI − 0.81 to 1.43; p = 0.323), whereas age-standardized mortality decreased significantly during 2016–2024 (AAPC − 3.49%; 95% CI − 4.38 to − 2.13; p < 0.001). Mortality declined significantly among women aged 18–44 and 45–64 years but not among those aged ≥ 65 years. The 2025 registry included 1,811 cases; stage was known for 1,723 (95.1%), of whom 436 (25.3%) had FIGO stage III–IV disease. Conclusions Cervical cancer remains an important health burden in Uzbekistan, with distinct age-specific patterns. Rising crude incidence alongside stable age-standardized incidence suggests that changes in population age structure may partly explain the observed increase. Mortality reductions were observed among younger and middle-aged women but not among those aged ≥ 65 years. First-year registry data provide a baseline for surveillance while highlighting the need for continued improvement in case ascertainment, pathology linkage, morphology coding, and stage validation.