Abstract:
Objective To understand the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2022 and provide evidence for the development of HFMD prevention and control measures in the future.
Methods The incidence data of HFMD and information related to public health emergencies in Shenzhen during 2013−2022 were collected from Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System and the sentinel etiological surveillance data of HFMD in Shenzhen during the same period were collected. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trend of incidence rate and proportion of severe cases. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and kernel density was used to analyze the spatial distribution of HFMD in Shenzhen.
Results From 2013 to 2022, the average annual incidence rate of HFMD was 375.10/100000 in Shenzhen, and the average annual rate of severe cases was 44.98/100000. The annual incidence rate showed an upward trend from 2013 to 2015 annual percentage change (APC)=26.12%, and the annual incidence rate decreased from 2015 to 2019 (APC=−2.58%), then decreased more obviously (APC=−41.95%); the annual rate of severe cases showed a downward trend from 2013 to 2015 (APC=−22.52%), and showed a rapid downward trend from 2015 to 2018 (APC=−54.72%), then showed a slow downward trend (APC=−1.91%). Children aged 0 to 5 years were at high risk, with the cases accounting for 93.65% of the total (442 140/472 134). The cases in children living scatteredly accounted for the highest proportion (74.86%, 353 462/472 134). The incidence of HFMD showed seasonality with one or two peaks. The incidences were high in Bao'an and Longgang districts and low in Futian, Luohu, Pingshan, Yantian, and Dapeng districts. After 2016, the proportions of reported HFMD cases and severe cases caused by EV-A71 decreased significantly to 0.16% and 0.00%, respectively, in 2022. CVA6 and CVA16 gradually became the predominant pathogens in common and severe cases of HFMD, accounting for 63.81% and 18.73% (CVA6), and 50.00% and 16.67% (CVA16), respectively, in 2022.
Conclusion During 2013−2022, the incidence of HFMD in Shenzhen showed obvious seasonality, area and population clustering, and the incidence rate of HFMD and the rate of severe cases showed decreasing trends after 2015. The predominant pathogens of HFMD shifted from EV-A71 to CVA6. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of HFMD in the area with high-incidence, promote the development and vaccination of multivalent vaccines to reduce the burden of HFMD on society.