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Background <p>Ovarian cancer is among the most fatal gynecologic malignancies worldwide, with marked regional disparities in survival outcomes. In Africa, limited comprehensive data exist on survival rates, yet available evidence highlights late-stage diagnosis, restricted access to specialized oncology services, and inequities in treatment availability as key contributors to poor prognosis. Understanding these survival trends is critical not only for clinical awareness, but also for informing health system planning and guiding policy decisions aimed at improving cancer care infrastructure, resource allocation, and patient outcomes across the continent. This meta-analysis synthesizes current data to estimate 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival rates for patients with ovarian cancer in Africa, providing an essential benchmark for policymakers and healthcare providers to address gaps and disparities compared with global survival patterns.</p> Materials and Methods <p>A systematic review of cohort studies was conducted from 1 to 29 February 2025, by using PubMed, Hinari, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa 2016 Critical Appraisal Checklist. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger’s test, and heterogeneity was assessed with the <i>I</i>-squared test. Data were analyzed with Stata 11.</p> Results <p>A total of 38 articles, including 7339 participants from African countries, were included in this review. Using a random-effects model, the pooled survival rates were estimated as follows: the 1-year survival rate was 71.41% (95% CI 63.71–79.11%); the 2-year survival rate was 69.08% (95% CI 57.31–80.85%); the 3-year survival rate was 61.49% (95% CI 45.19–77.80%); the 5-year survival rate was 61.73% (95% CI 52.72–70.74%); and the 7-year survival rate was 53.74% (95% CI 34.24–73.25%).</p> Conclusions <p>This meta-analysis provides a broad overview of ovarian cancer survival rates in Africa, showing variation across timepoints and geographic regions. While the estimated survival rates are encouraging, they remain lower than those reported globally, highlighting ongoing challenges related to late diagnosis, limited treatment access, and healthcare disparities. Policymakers should prioritize raising awareness of cancer symptoms, enhancing early diagnosis through effective referral systems, investing in workforce capacity for specialized surgery and oncology care, and ensuring equitable access to quality cancer services. Further research and context-specific policy measures are essential to support sustainable improvements and the standardized International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines protocol in survival outcomes across the continent.</p>

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Survival Patterns of Patients with Ovarian Cancer in Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月18日

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  • Chalie Mulugeta,
  • Tadele Emagneneh,
  • Nigusie Abebaw,
  • Aynalem Yetwale,
  • Tilahun Wodaynew,
  • Abebaw Alamrew

摘要

Background

Ovarian cancer is among the most fatal gynecologic malignancies worldwide, with marked regional disparities in survival outcomes. In Africa, limited comprehensive data exist on survival rates, yet available evidence highlights late-stage diagnosis, restricted access to specialized oncology services, and inequities in treatment availability as key contributors to poor prognosis. Understanding these survival trends is critical not only for clinical awareness, but also for informing health system planning and guiding policy decisions aimed at improving cancer care infrastructure, resource allocation, and patient outcomes across the continent. This meta-analysis synthesizes current data to estimate 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival rates for patients with ovarian cancer in Africa, providing an essential benchmark for policymakers and healthcare providers to address gaps and disparities compared with global survival patterns.

Materials and Methods

A systematic review of cohort studies was conducted from 1 to 29 February 2025, by using PubMed, Hinari, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa 2016 Critical Appraisal Checklist. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger’s test, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I-squared test. Data were analyzed with Stata 11.

Results

A total of 38 articles, including 7339 participants from African countries, were included in this review. Using a random-effects model, the pooled survival rates were estimated as follows: the 1-year survival rate was 71.41% (95% CI 63.71–79.11%); the 2-year survival rate was 69.08% (95% CI 57.31–80.85%); the 3-year survival rate was 61.49% (95% CI 45.19–77.80%); the 5-year survival rate was 61.73% (95% CI 52.72–70.74%); and the 7-year survival rate was 53.74% (95% CI 34.24–73.25%).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis provides a broad overview of ovarian cancer survival rates in Africa, showing variation across timepoints and geographic regions. While the estimated survival rates are encouraging, they remain lower than those reported globally, highlighting ongoing challenges related to late diagnosis, limited treatment access, and healthcare disparities. Policymakers should prioritize raising awareness of cancer symptoms, enhancing early diagnosis through effective referral systems, investing in workforce capacity for specialized surgery and oncology care, and ensuring equitable access to quality cancer services. Further research and context-specific policy measures are essential to support sustainable improvements and the standardized International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines protocol in survival outcomes across the continent.