Abstract:
Objective To understand the epidemiological trends, and spatial distribution characteristics of reported pulmonary tuberculosis among children aged 0−14 years in China.
Methods Reported incidence data of pulmonary tuberculosis among children aged 0−14 years across the nation from 2011 to 2023 were retrieved from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The Joinpoint 5.1.0 software was employed to conduct a trend analysis of the reported incidence rate. The ArcGIS 10.8 and SaTScan 10.2.5 software were utilized to perform spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scan analysis on the reported incidence rate.
Results A total of 102131 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis among children aged 0−14 years were reported nationwide from 2011 to 2023. The reported incidence rate declined from 3.96 per 100 000 population in 2011 to 2.97 per 100000 population in 2024 average annual percentage change (AAPC) = −2.76%, 95% confidence interval(CI) : −3.56%~−2.06%, P<0.001. The results of global autocorrelation analysis indicated that the global Moran's I index of the reported incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis among children across the country each year from 2011 to 2023 ranged between 0.27 and 0.46, demonstrating significant global autocorrelation (all P < 0.001). The results of local autocorrelation analysis revealed that there were hotspots (characterized by high - high clustering) in the reported incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis among children across the country from 2011 to 2023, primarily concentrated in five provinces, namely Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Xizang, and Xinjiang. From 2011 to 2023, a total of 5 clusters were identified. Among them, the first class clusters were distributed in Xizang, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Ningxia, Chongqing, and Guizhou, with the clustering period spanning from 2017 to 2022.
Conclusion From 2011 to 2023, the reported incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis among children aged 0-14 years in China exhibited a downward trend, presenting a distinct spatial clustering distribution. The hotspot areas were mainly centered in the northwestern and southwestern regions of China. It is imperative to reinforce the joint prevention and control of pulmonary tuberculosis in provinces with a continuously increasing incidence and in clustering areas.