Epidemiological characteristics and incidence trend of hand, foot and mouth disease in Tongzhou district, Beijing, 2013−2022

Objective To analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Tongzhou district of Beijing from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2022, understand the population and seasonal distribution sof HFMD cases and change trend, and provide reference for the prevention and control of HFMD in Tongzhou.

Methods The data of this study were collected from the Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System of China Disease Prevention and Control Information System, Etiological Surveillance Database of HFMD in Tongzhou and Statistical Yearbook of Tongzhou’. Descriptive analysis, Joinpoint regression model, annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were used to analyze the gender, age and area distribution characteristics and annual incidence of HFMD in Tongzhou.

Results Joinpoint regression analysis showed that the incidence of HFMD in Tongzhou from 2013 to 2022 showed a downward trend (APC=AAPC=−18.13%), the incidence in males was always higher than that in females, and the incidences in both males and females, as well as the incidences of all age groups showed downward trends. The median age of HFMD cases was 3 years old, and the HFMD cases reported in age group 1−6 years accounted for the highest proportion (73.83%). The majority of reported cases were children living scatteredly and children in nursery care settings (19 852 cases, 90.47%), and the cases mainly occurred in the urban-rural continuum area (9 448 cases, 41.30%). The incidence of HFMD in Tongzhou showed peaks during May-August in most years. Etiological analysis indicated that Cox A16 infection was the most common, accounting for 31.76%. A total of 42 cases of severe HFMD were reported from 2013 to 2022 was 42, and the incidence of severe HFMD was highest in 2013. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.45∶1, and the high incidence was observed in age group 1−2 years and 2−3 years, the cases were mainly children living scatteredly, accounting for 52.38%.

Conclusion The incidence of HFMD in Tongzhou district from 2013 to 2022 was higher than that in Beijing during the same period, and the incidence showed a decreasing trend. Children living scatteredly and children in nursery care settings were the key groups affected, and the incidence was higher in urban-rural continuum area than in urban area and rural area. The predominant pathogens were Cox A16 and Cox A6 alternatively. Therefore, attention should be paid to the dynamic change of HFMD etiology, and the development of univalent vaccines of other types and combined vaccines of EV71 should be accelerated to cope with the pressure of prevention and control of HFMD brought by the constant change of pathogen spectrum.