Provincial-level Administrative Divisions Research Articles

The Prevalence of Rickettsial and Rickettsial-Like Diseases in Patients with Undifferentiated Febrile Illness - Hainan Province, China, 2018-2021.

Rickettsial and Rickettsial-like diseases, resulting from obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, pose a growing public health threat in China. To assess the current prevalence of these diseases on Hainan Island, a study was conducted on 9 bacterial pathogens found in patients with undifferentiated febrile illness (UFI) treated in Haikou between 2018 and 2021 using a TaqMan Polymerase Chain Reaction (TaqMan PCR) array. Blood samples (n=503) were collected from patients with UFI between 2018 and 2021. The samples were screened for Rickettsia spp., Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi), Anaplasma. phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum), Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia psittaci, Brucella spp., Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Borrelia burgdorferi using a TaqMan PCR array. Positive samples (Ct<35) underwent confirmation through nested PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. O. tsutsugamushi and A. phagocytophilum were detected in the patients at positive rates of 14.51% (73/503) and 5.57% (28/503), respectively. Co-infection of O. tsutsugamushi and A. phagocytophilum was identified in scrub typhus (ST) positive populations from Hainan (10.96%, 8/73), Guangxi (61.54%, 8/13), and Yunnan (5.36%, 3/56) provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) of China. An increased prevalence rate of ST and a decreased prevalence of rickettsioses were observed in patients with UFI in Hainan compared to a decade ago. The co-infection of O. tsutsugamushi and A. phagocytophilum poses a current public health threat in China.

Mutations and intron polymorphisms in voltage-gated sodium channel genes of different geographic populations of Culex pipiens pallens/Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus in China

BackgroundCulex pipiens pallens and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus are the dominant species of Culex mosquitoes in China and important disease vectors. Long-term use of insecticides can cause mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene of mosquitoes, but little is known about the current status and evolutionary origins of vgsc gene in different geographic populations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the current status of vgsc genes in Cx. p. pallens and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus in China and to investigate the evolutionary inheritance of neighboring downstream introns of the vgsc gene to determine the impact of insecticides on long-term evolution.MethodsSampling was conducted from July to September 2021 in representative habitats of 22 provincial-level administrative divisions in China. Genomic DNA was extracted from 1308 mosquitoes, the IIS6 fragment of the vgsc gene on the nerve cell membrane was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, and the sequence was used to evaluate allele frequency and knockdown resistance (kdr) frequency. MEGA 11 was used to construct neighbor-joining (NJ) tree. PopART was used to build a TCS network.ResultsThere were 6 alleles and 6 genotypes at the L1014 locus, which included the wild-type alleles TTA/L and CTA/L and the mutant alleles TTT/F, TTC/F, TCT/S and TCA/S. The geographic populations with a kdr frequency less than 20.00% were mainly concentrated in the regions north of 38° N, and the geographic populations with a kdr frequency greater than 80.00% were concentrated in the regions south of 30° N. kdr frequency increased with decreasing latitude. And within the same latitude, the frequency of kdr in large cities is relatively high. Mutations were correlated with the number of introns. The mutant allele TCA/S has only one intron, the mutant allele TTT/F has three introns, and the wild-type allele TTA/L has 17 introns.ConclusionsCx. p. pallens and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus have developed resistance to insecticides in most regions of China. The neighboring downstream introns of the vgsc gene gradually decreased to one intron with the mutation of the vgsc gene. Mutations may originate from multiple mutation events rather than from a single origin, and populations lacking mutations may be genetically isolated.Graphical

Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Dominance of XBB Replacement - China, January-June 2023.

In the first half of 2023, a global shift was observed towards the predominance of XBB variants. China faced a significant epidemic between late 2022 and early 2023 due to Omicron subvariants BA.5.2 and BF.7. This study aims to depict the evolving variant distribution among provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) in China and explore the factors driving the predominance of XBB replacement. Sequences from local and imported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases recorded between January 1 and June 30, 2023, were included. The study analyzed the changing distribution of viral variants and assessed how the prior dominance of specific variants, XBB subvariants, and imported cases influenced the prevalence of the XBB replacement variant. A total of 56,486 sequences were obtained from local cases, and 8,669 sequences were from imported cases. Starting in April, there was a shift in the prevalence of XBB from imported to local cases, with varying dominance among PLADs. In PLADs previously high in BF.7, the rise of XBB was delayed. A positive correlation was found between XBB proportions in imported cases from January to March and local cases in April. The distribution pattern of XBB subvariants differed between local and imported cases within the same PLAD. No significant differences were noted in the replacement rates of XBB subvariants. The timing of XBB dominance differed among various PLADs in China in the first half of 2023, correlating closely with the prevalence of XBB variants among imported cases.

Exploring the Lagged Correlation Between Baidu Index and Influenza-Like Illness - China, 2014-2019.

This study investigated the lagged correlation between Baidu Index for influenza-related keywords and influenza-like illness percentage (ILI%) across regions in China. The aim is to establish a scientific foundation for utilizing Baidu Index as an early warning tool for influenza-like illness epidemics. In this study, data on ILI% and Baidu Index were collected from 30 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) spanning April 2014 to March 2019. The Baidu Index was categorized into Overall Index, Ordinary Index, Prevention Index, Symptom Index, and Treatment Index based on search query themes. The lagged correlation between the Baidu Index and ILI% was examined through the cross-correlation function (CCF) method. Correlating the Baidu Overall Index of 30 PLADs with ILI% revealed CCF values ranging from 0.46 to 0.86, with a median lag of 0.5 days. Subcategory analysis indicated that the Prevention Index and Symptom Index exhibited quicker responses to ILI%, with median lags of -9 and -0.5 days, respectively, compared to 0 and 3 days for the Ordinary and Treatment Indexes. The median lag days between the Baidu Index and the ILI% were earlier in the northern PLADs compared to the southern PLADs. The Prevention and Symptom Indexes show promising predictive capabilities for influenza-like illness epidemics.

Temporal and Spatial Trends in HIV Positivity Rate for VCT Clinics - China, 2015-2022.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics play a critical role in identifying and diagnosing HIV cases. This study aimed to describe the trend of HIV positivity rate (HPR) among Chinese VCT clinics between 2015 and 2022. This study utilized data from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention to analyze the trend in the HPR for VCT clinics from 2015 to 2022. The HPR was calculated by dividing the number of newly-reported HIV cases by the number of HIV tests, multiplied by 100%. To identify temporal and spatial trends in the HPR, we employed joinpoint regression analysis and the Getis-Ord hotspot analysis. From 2015 to 2022, VCT clinics in China performed a total of 22,075,386 HIV tests, leading to the identification of 260,353 HIV cases, resulting in a HPR of 1.18%. The HPR consistently declined over the study period, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of -7.5% (95% confidence interval: -12.6%, -2.2%, P<0.05). The number of HPR hotspots also decreased from 41 in 2015 to 23 in 2022. These HPR hotspots were primarily located in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs). Among the 31 PLADs, 16 showed a significant decrease in HPR during the study period (AAPC<0, PAAPC<0.05). VCT clinics in China have played a significant role in identifying HIV cases. The declining HPR observed in these clinics may indicates the progress has been made in some degree in mitigating HIV among high-risk populations. Therefore, it is crucial to further improving the utilization of VCT clinics for HIV testing.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Human Parainfluenza Viruses Infections - China, 2019-2023.

A retrospective study based on sentinel surveillance was conducted in 10 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) in China to enhance the understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs). From January 2019 to June 2023, respiratory specimens were collected from individuals with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and screened for four HPIVs serotypes and other common respiratory viruses using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study analyzed the association of HPIVs infections with seasonal patterns, geographical distribution, demographic profiles, clinical features, and co-infection status. During the study period, a total of 12,866 ARIs were included. The overall detection rate of HPIVs was 6.15%, varying from 5.04% in 2022 to 9.70% in 2020. The median age of HPIVs-infected patients was 3 years. HPIV2 was more prevalent among individuals aged 5-17 years (42.57%), while HPIV4 was more common in those over 65 years (12.24%). HPIV3 (54.16%) and HPIV1 (27.18%) were the predominant serotypes, and their prevalence exhibited significant seasonal fluctuations post- coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The peak of HPIV3 shifted three months later in 2020 compared to 2019 and returned to a summer peak thereafter. Two peaks of HPIV1 were observed in 2021 following the peak of HPIV3. Additionally, co-infections were frequent in HPIVs cases (overall rate: 22.12%), with human rhinovirus being the most common co-infecting virus. The prevalence of HPIVs in China was predominantly due to HPIV3 and HPIV1, and their seasonal patterns were altered by pandemic restrictions. Hence, continuous surveillance of HPIVs is essential.

Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Drinking Water Type of Endemic Fluorosis - China, 2009-2022.

Endemic fluorosis, caused by high fluoride levels in drinking water, has been a significant health issue in rural areas of China for many decades. There has been a notable decline in the detection rate of dental fluorosis in children aged 8-12 years in drinking water fluorosis areas across the country from 2009 to 2022. While 14 provincial-level administrative divisions are classified as low-probability clusters, Tianjin remains classified as a high-probability cluster. The current policy for preventing and controlling endemic fluorosis in China needs adjustment. Rather than focusing solely on regions with high incidence, there should be a shift towards monitoring and early warning of fluoride exposure. Additionally, local containment measures should be intensified.

Geographic Diversity in the Incidence of Human Prion Diseases - China, 2006-2019.

Human prion diseases (PrDs) are rare, fatal encephalopathies requiring comprehensive diagnostic analysis. This study examines hospital referral patterns to the Chinese National Surveillance for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CNS-CJD) from 2006 to 2019. We assessed 1,970 PrD cases referred by various hospitals to CNS-CJD. Referral distributions were analyzed based on provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs). Differences in referral numbers and confirmed cases between monitored and non-monitored PLADs were statistically evaluated. The study included cases from 344 hospitals across 29 Chinese PLADs. Hospital referrals increased over the surveillance years: from 28.2 hospitals annually during 2006-2010, to 64 in 2011-2015, and 107 in 2016-2019. Of these, 12.2% (42/344) of hospitals reported ≥10 PrD cases, accounting for 70.0% (1,379/1,970) of total cases. Referral numbers varied across PLADs, with the top 5 of Beijing (41), Henan (26), Shanghai (21), Guangdong (21), and Jiangsu (21) leading. Additionally, 12 CJD-surveillance PLADs had more referring hospitals and PrD cases than the other 17 non-surveillance PLADs. Geographical variations in PrD recognition exist across Chinese PLADs, with certain regions and major cities reporting notably higher case numbers.

Cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination of children in China: a modeling analysis

BackgroundChina has a high burden of influenza-associated illness among children. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of introducing government-funded influenza vaccination to children in China (fully-funded policy) compared with the status quo (self-paid policy).MethodsA decision tree model was developed to calculate the economic and health outcomes, from a societal perspective, using national- and provincial-level data. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) [incremental costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained] was used to compare the fully-funded policy with the self-paid policy under the willingness-to-pay threshold equivalent to national and provincial GDP per capita. Sensitivity analyses were performed and various scenarios were explored based on real-world conditions, including incorporating indirect effect into the analysis.ResultsCompared to the self-paid policy, implementation of a fully-funded policy could prevent 1,444,768 [95% uncertainty range (UR): 1,203,446–1,719,761] symptomatic cases, 92,110 (95% UR: 66,953–122,226) influenza-related hospitalizations, and 6494 (95% UR: 4590–8962) influenza-related death per season. The fully-funded policy was cost-effective nationally (7964 USD per QALY gained) and provincially for 13 of 31 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs). The probability of a funded vaccination policy being cost-effective was 56.5% nationally, and the probability in 9 of 31 PLADs was above 75%. The result was most sensitive to the symptomatic influenza rate among children under 5 years [ICER ranging from − 25,612 (cost-saving) to 14,532 USD per QALY gained]. The ICER of the fully-funded policy was substantially lower (becoming cost-saving) if the indirect effects of vaccination were considered.ConclusionsIntroducing a government-funded influenza policy for children is cost-effective in China nationally and in many PLADs. PLADs with high symptomatic influenza rate and influenza-associated mortality would benefit the most from a government-funded influenza vaccination program.

Factors associated with recommendation behaviors of four non-National Immunization Program vaccines: a cross-sectional survey among public health workers in China

BackgroundImmunization is a crucial preventive measure to safeguard children under five years old against a range of diseases. In China, the coverage rate of non-National Immunization Program (non-NIP) vaccines can be improved by leveraging the recommendation from public health workers. Hence, understanding the influencing factors of recommendation behaviors assume paramount importance. This study aims to investigate influencing factors of public health workers' recommendation behaviors towards non-NIP vaccines, with a particular emphasis on financial incentives.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using a multi-stage sampling method in 2019 from August to October. 627 public health workers were recruited from 148 community healthcare centers in ten provincial-level administrative divisions in China. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, attitudes towards vaccination, and recommendation behaviors towards non-NIP vaccines, including Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, varicella vaccine, and rotavirus vaccine. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were adopted in this study.ResultsOf the 610 public health workers with complete survey data, 53.8%, 57.4%, 84.1%, and 54.1% often recommended Hib vaccine, pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine (PCV), varicella vaccine, and rotavirus vaccine, respectively. Logistic regression revealed that gender (Hib vaccine: OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8; PCV: OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8; rotavirus vaccine: OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2–0.6), financial incentives for non-NIP vaccination (Hib vaccine: OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.6; PCV: OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–3.9; rotavirus vaccine: OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–3.8) and perception of vaccine safety (Hib vaccine: OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1–7.0; PCV: OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.2–8.0; rotavirus vaccine: OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2–7.7) were associated with public health workers’ recommendation towards Hib vaccine, PCV and rotavirus vaccine.ConclusionsThe findings highlighted public health workers’ recommendation behaviors of non-NIP vaccines in China and revealed strong association between vaccine recommendation and financial incentives. This highlights the importance of financial incentives in public health workers’ recommendation toward non-NIP vaccines in China. Proper incentives are recommended for public health workers to encourage effective health promotion in immunization practices.Graphical

Evaluation of performance for malaria diagnosis in health facilities by five provincial reference laboratories of China.

The provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratories review and assess malaria cases diagnosed in health facilities for supporting the malaria elimination efforts and preventing re-transmission of imported malaria. The study aimed to evaluate the detection capability of malaria diagnosis in China from 2014 to 2021. Data on malaria cases reported in the provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) of Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Guangxi, and Zhejiang from 2014 to 2021 were collected and analyzed. In total, 5,770 malaria cases were reported from 2014 to 2021, and 99.05% (5,715/5,770) were submitted to the provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratories. The median time between malaria cases being reported and the samples being received by reference laboratories was 6 days (Interquartile range, IQR:3-12 days) from 2017 to 2021. Diagnosis of 5,680 samples in the laboratory were confirmed by provincial reference laboratories, including 3,970 cases of Plasmodium falciparum, 414 of P. vivax, 1,055 of P. ovale, 158 of P. malariae, 1 of P. knowlesi, and 82 of mixed infections. Plasmodium species of 5,141 confirmed cases were consistent with the initial diagnosis, with a species accuracy rate of 90.53% (5,141/5,679). The accuracy of P. falciparum diagnosis in health facilities was higher than that of non-falciparum species. The inconsistency between microscopy and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) results of confirmatory diagnosis was mainly in malaria-positive versus malaria-negative cases, as well as in mixed versus single infection cases. The provincial malaria diagnosis reference laboratories have played an important role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of Plasmodium diagnosis in health facilities. However, the results of this study imply that capacity training for the identification of Plasmodium species in health facilities is warranted.

Increasing incidence of Plasmodium ovale and persistent reporting of Plasmodium vivax in imported malaria cases: an analysis of 9-year surveillance data in four areas of China.

This study aimed at exploring the epidemiological pattern of imported malaria in China before malaria elimination in 2021, to provide evidence-based data for preventing malaria re-establishment in China. Nine-year surveillance data on imported malaria in four provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) (Anhui, Chongqing, Guangxi, and Zhejiang) between 2011 and 2019 were thoroughly collected and analyzed. A quite stable trend in imported malaria cases between 2011 and 2019 was observed. In total, 6,064 imported patients were included. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently reported species (4,575, 75.6%). Cases of malaria were most frequently imported from Western Africa (54.4%). We identified an increasing trend in P. ovale and a persistence of P. vivax infections among the cases of malaria imported from Western Africa. Most patients (97.5%) were 20-50 years old. Among imported malaria infections, the main purposes for traveling abroad were labor export (4,914/6,064, 81.0%) and business trips (649, 10.7%). Most patients (2,008/6,064, 33.1%) first visited county-level medical institutions when they sought medical help in China. More patients were diagnosed within 3 days after visiting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) or entry-exit quarantine facilities (EQFs) (1,147/1609, 71.3%) than after visiting medical institutions (2,182/3993, 54.6%). Imported malaria still poses a threat to the malaria-free status of China. County-level institutions are the primary targets in China to improve the sensitivity of the surveillance system and prevent the re-establishment of malaria. Health education should focus on exported labors, especially to Western and Central Africa. Increasing trend in P. ovale and persistence of P. vivax infections indicated their underestimations in Western Africa. Efficient diagnostic tools and sensitive monitoring systems are required to identify Plasmodium species in Africa.

Impact of urbanization on morbidity of hepatitis A: a national panel study in China during 2005–2018

BackgroundThe effect of urbanization on the morbidity of hepatitis A remains unclear. We aimed to estimate the association between various urbanization-related indices and hepatitis A morbidity in China.MethodsData on the annual morbidity of hepatitis A, urbanization-related measures (i.e., gross domestic product per capita, the number of hospitalization beds per 1000 persons, illiteracy rate, tap water coverage, motor vehicles per 100 persons, population density, and the proportion of arable land), and meteorological factors in 31 provincial-level administrative divisions of Chinese mainland during 2005–2018 were collected from the National Population and Health Science Data Sharing Platform, China Statistical Yearbooks, and the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System, respectively. Generalized linear mixed models were applied to quantify the impacts of different urbanization-related indices on the morbidity of hepatitis A in China after adjusting for covariates.ResultsA total of 537,466 hepatitis A cases were reported in China during 2005–2018. The annual morbidity had a decline of 79.4% from 5.64 cases to 1.16 cases per 100,000 people. There were obvious spatial variations with higher morbidity in western China. Nationally, gross domestic product per capita and the number of hospitalization beds per 1000 persons increased from 14,040 to 64,644 CNY and from 2.45 to 6.03 during 2005–2018, respectively. The illiteracy rate decreased from 11.0 to 4.9%. Gross domestic product per capita [relative risk (RR) = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92–0.99], and the number of hospitalization beds per 1000 persons (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.75–0.83) were associated with the declined morbidity of hepatitis A. By contrast, the increased morbidity of hepatitis A was linked to the illiteracy rate (RR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02–1.06). Similar influential factors were detected for children and adults, with greater effects witnessed for children.ConclusionsPeople in the western region suffered the heaviest burden of hepatitis A in Chinese mainland. Nationally, there was a sharp decline in the morbidity of hepatitis A. The urbanization process was associated with the reduction of hepatitis A morbidity in China during 2005–2018.Graphical

Reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants, China, December 2022-January 2023.

China adjusted the zero-COVID strategy in late 2022, triggering an unprecedented Omicron wave. We estimated the time-varying reproduction numbers of 32 provincial-level administrative divisions from December 2022 to January 2023. We found that the pooled estimate of initial reproduction numbers is 4.74 (95% CI: 4.41, 5.07).

Uptake of hepatitis C direct-acting antiviral treatment in China: a retrospective study from 2017 to 2021

BackgroundDirect-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C treatment in China became available since 2017. This study expects to generate evidence to inform decision-making in a nationwide scale-up of DAA treatment in China.MethodsWe described the number of standard DAA treatment at both national and provincial levels in China from 2017 to 2021 based on the China Hospital Pharmacy Audit (CHPA) data. We performed interrupted time series analysis to estimate the level and trend changes of the monthly number of standard DAA treatment at national level. We also adopted the latent class trajectory model (LCTM) to form clusters of the provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) with similar levels and trends of number of treatment, and to explore the potential enablers of the scale-up of DAA treatment at provincial level.ResultsThe number of 3-month standard DAA treatment at national level increased from 104 in the last two quarters of 2017 to 49,592 in the year of 2021. The estimated DAA treatment rates in China were 1.9% and 0.7% in 2020 and 2021, which is far below the global target of 80%. The national price negotiation at the end of 2019 resulted in DAA inclusion by the national health insurance in January 2020. In that month, the number of treatment increased 3668 person-times (P < 0.05). LCTM fits the best when the number of trajectory class is four. PLADs as Tianjin, Shanghai and Zhejiang that had piloted DAA price negotiations before the national negotiation and that had explored integration of hepatitis service delivery with prevention and control programme of hepatitis C within the existing services demonstrated earlier and faster scale-up of treatment.ConclusionsCentral negotiations to reduce prices of DAAs resulted in inclusion of DAA treatment under the universal health insurance, which are critical elements that support scaling up access to hepatitis C treatment in China. However, the current treatment rates are still far below the global target. Targeting the PLADs lagged behind through raising public awareness, strengthening capacity of the healthcare providers by roving training, and integrate prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up management of hepatitis C into the existing services are needed.

Sentinel Surveillance of Schistosomiasis - China, 2021.

This report analyzes the national surveillance data for schistosomiasis in 2021 to understand the current status and provide evidence for further policy actions to promote elimination. This analysis is in line with the National Surveillance Plan of Schistosomiasis, which was revised in 2020 to adapt to the new stage of moving towards elimination. Data from the 2021 national surveillance of schistosomiasis in humans, livestock, and snails were collected from 13 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) and analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methodology. The antibody-positive rate and area of newly discovered and re-emergent snail habitats were calculated. In 2021, a total of 31,661 local residents and 101,558 transient population were screened for antibodies using indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). Of those who tested positive, 745 local residents and 438 transient population underwent further parasitological examination, with only one stool-positive result in the transient population. Additionally, 12,966 livestock were examined using the miracidia hatching test, with no positives detected. The total area of newly discovered and re-emergent snail habitats was 957,702 m2 and 4,381,617 m2, respectively. No infected snails were found using the microscopic dissection method, but six pooled snail samples were reported as positive using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for detecting specific sequences of Schistosoma. japonicum, in Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces. The prevalence of schistosomiasis among humans and livestock was found to be low, however, a potential transmission risk was identified in certain areas. To reduce the risk of transmission, a comprehensive control strategy should be continued and new techniques should be implemented in the surveillance and early warning system.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 reduced the incidence of infectious diseases: a controlled interrupted time-series study

BackgroundNon-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been implemented worldwide to suppress the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, few studies have evaluated the effect of NPIs on other infectious diseases and none has assessed the avoided disease burden associated with NPIs. We aimed to assess the effect of NPIs on the incidence of infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and evaluate the health economic benefits related to the reduction in the incidence of infectious diseases.MethodsData on 10 notifiable infectious diseases across China during 2010–2020 were extracted from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. A two-stage controlled interrupted time-series design with a quasi-Poisson regression model was used to examine the impact of NPIs on the incidence of infectious diseases. The analysis was first performed at the provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) level in China, then the PLAD-specific estimates were pooled using a random-effect meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 61,393,737 cases of 10 infectious diseases were identified. The implementation of NPIs was associated with 5.13 million (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.45‒7.42) avoided cases and USD 1.77 billion (95% CI 1.18‒2.57) avoided hospital expenditures in 2020. There were 4.52 million (95% CI 3.00‒6.63) avoided cases for children and adolescents, corresponding to 88.2% of total avoided cases. The top leading cause of avoided burden attributable to NPIs was influenza [avoided percentage (AP): 89.3%; 95% CI 84.5‒92.6]. Socioeconomic status and population density were effect modifiers.ConclusionsNPIs for COVID-19 could effectively control the prevalence of infectious diseases, with patterns of risk varying by socioeconomic status. These findings have important implications for informing targeted strategies to prevent infectious diseases.

Association between Health-Related Quality of Life and Access to Chronic Disease Management by Primary Care Facilities in Mainland China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The integration of chronic disease management (CDM) services into the essential public health services offered by primary care facilities has been a major strategy in China's healthcare reform since 2009. We aimed to measure the percentage of patients with chronic diseases in China who believed that they could easily obtain CDM services at a nearby primary care facility in mainland China and determine its association with the EQ visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) score and the utility index of the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L). A cross-sectional survey was conducted nationwide between 20 June 2022 and 31 August 2022, involving 5525 patients with chronic diseases from 32 provincial-level administrative divisions, of which 48.1% (n = 2659) were female with a median age of 55.0 years. The median EQ-VAS score was 73.0 and the utility index of the EQ-5D-5L was 0.942. A majority of patients reported definite (24.3%) or mostly (45.9%) easy access to CDM services from nearby primary care facilities. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that easy access to CDM services in primary care facilities was positively associated with higher HRQoL. Our findings indicate that, as of 2022, approximately 70% of patients with chronic diseases in mainland China had easy access to CDM services provided by primary care facilities, which was significantly and positively associated with their health status.

Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease in China

To our knowledge, there has been no update on the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in China since 2012. To provide periodic nationwide data on the prevalence of CKD and the associated behavioral and metabolic risk factors in China. This nationally representative cross-sectional study included data from 176 874 adults from all 31 provincial-level administrative divisions in mainland China, as reported in the sixth China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance conducted from August 2018 to June 2019. Data analysis was performed in 2021 to 2022. Serum creatinine, urinal creatinine, and urine albumin were measured for all participants. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated from serum creatinine using the CKD-EPI equation. The primary outcome was weighted prevalence of CKD in the overall population and different strata, defined as presence of impaired kidney function (eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73m2) or albuminuria (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio of ≥30 mg/g). Secondary outcomes were awareness of CKD and control of comorbidities. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral and dietary habits, physical activity, and comorbidities with CKD. A total of 184 876 participants contributed data to this study, and of the 176 874 adults 18 years and older with measurements of eGFR and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in 2018 to 2019, the mean age was 43.8 years and the weighted proportion of women was 44.6%. The estimated prevalence of CKD, impaired kidney function, and albuminuria were 8.2%, 2.2%, and 6.7%, respectively. A higher prevalence of CKD was observed in the subgroups characterized by older age, female gender, non-Han ethnicity, residency of rural or north and central parts of China, receiving less education or lower income, former smoking, no alcohol drinking, lacking physical activity, and presence of risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and self-reported cardiovascular disease. Among the adults with CKD, 73.3%, 25.0%, and 1.8% were at stage 1 to 2, 3, and 4 to 5, respectively, and the awareness of CKD was 10.0%. This cross-sectional study found a weighted estimated of 82 million adults with CKD in China in 2018 to 2019. The prevalence appears to have decreased by 30% in the past decade. Better environmental protection, integration of CKD into the national public health surveillance program, and control of common CKD comorbidities appear to be associated with reducing the disease burden of CKD.

Breast Cancer Screening Coverage - China, 2018-2019.

In 2015, only 18.9% of adult women underwent breast cancer screening in China. Breast cancer screening coverage for women aged 20 years and above in China reached 22.3% during 2018-2019. Women with lower socioeconomic status had lower screening coverage. There were significant variations across the provincial-level administrative divisions. The promotion of breast cancer screening requires the maintenance of national and local policies, as well as financial support for screening services. In addition, there is a need for the strengthening of health education and the improvement of accessibility to health services.