[Epidemiologic and spatio-temporal characteristics of hepatitis E in China, 2004-2014]

Analysis of the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of hepatitis E in Jiangsu province from 2005 to 2020

Objective

This study attempts to analyze the spatial clustering and spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of hepatitis E (HE) at the county (city and district) level in Jiangsu province to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of HE.

Method

The information on HE cases reported in the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System from 2005 to 2020 was collected for spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial-temporal clustering analysis.

Result

From 2005 to 2020, 48,456 HE cases were reported in Jiangsu province, with an average annual incidence rate of 3.87/100,000. Male cases outnumbered female cases (2.46:1), and the incidence was highest in the 30-70 years of age group (80.50%). Farmers accounted for more than half of all cases (59.86%), and in terms of the average annual incidence, the top three cities were all in Zhenjiang city. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that Global Moran's I of HE incidence varied from 0.232 to 0.513 for the years. From 2005 to 2020, 31 counties (cities and districts) had high and statistically significant HE incidence, and two clustering areas were detected by spatial-temporal scanning.

Conclusion

HE incidence in Jiangsu province from 2005 to 2020 was stable, with age and gender differences, regional clustering, and spatial-temporal clustering. Further investigation of HE clustering areas is necessary to formulate corresponding targeted prevention and control measures.

Mortality trends of liver diseases in mainland China over three decades: an age-period-cohort analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyse mortality trends of liver diseases in China over the past 30 years.

DESIGN

Age-period-cohort analyses were applied to liver diseases data obtained from the Chinese Health Statistics Annual Report (1987-2001) and the Chinese Health Statistics Yearbook (2003-2017).

SETTING

General population in mainland China.

OUTCOMES

Mortality rates and age, period and cohort effects on three categories of liver diseases: primary liver cancer (PLC), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (CLD), and viral hepatitis (VH).

RESULTS

A total of 13.54 million deaths were attributable to liver diseases over the period between 1987 and 2016, resulting in an average of 36.15 deaths per 100 000 population per year. The risk of PLC mortality increased by 32.69% over the period after controlling for the effects of age and birth cohort. By contrast, the risk of CLD mortality decreased by 56.64% over the same period. The risk of VH mortality decreased first, followed by a resurgence after the period of 2002-2006. Similar mortality risk trends by age (increasing) and birth cohort (decreasing) were observed for PLC and CLD. The year 1952 represented a turning point for VH, with people born after 1950 experiencing a declining risk of VH mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

China has achieved great success in reducing the mortality of VH and CLD. However, significant challenges lie ahead in the efforts to prevent and control PLC and the resurgence of VH.

Development of new hepatitis E vaccines

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging zoonotic disease posing a severe threat to public health in the world, especially to pregnant women. Currently, no specific treatments are available for HEV infection. Therefore, it is crucial to develop vaccine to prevent this infection. Although several potential candidate vaccines against HEV have been studied for their immunogenicity and efficacy, only Hecolin® which is developed by Xiamen Innovax Biotech Co., Ltd. and approved by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) in 2012, is the licensed HEV vaccine in the world so far. Extensive studies on safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in phase III clinical trials have shown that Hecolin® is a promising vaccine for HEV prevention and control. In this article, the advances on HEV vaccine development and research are briefly reviewed.