Prevalence and incidence of advanced schistosomiasis and risk factors for case fatality in Hunan Province, China

Acta Trop. 2021 May:217:105862. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105862. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Abstract

Advanced schistosomiasis has become a major public health problem in areas with a heavy burden of schistosomiasis infection. Our objective was to determine the incidence and prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and risk factors associated with case fatality of advanced schistosomiasis. Data were abstracted from hospitalization records of patients with advanced schistosomiasis from Hunan Province, China. The incidence and prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis were determined and the risk factors for death in advanced patients were assessed using logistic regression analysis. A total of 10,362 patients with advanced schistosomiasis were recruited into our study and 65% of them were categorized as the ascites type. There were 1249 deaths between 2005 and 2018 and the case fatality was 12.05%. The incidence of advanced schistosomiasis increased from 2002 to 2010, peaked in 2010 and then leveled off. The prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis increased from 2005 to 2014, and was stable afterwards. HBV was a risk factor for death in advanced patients (adjusted odds ratio (aOR=1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI: 1.55 to 2.41). Patients without splenectomy had a higher risk of death (aOR=1.29, 95%CI: 1.08 to 1.56). Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was positively associated with the risk of death (aOR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.76). Besides, abnormal ALT, ascites and anemia were also significantly associated with the risk of death in advanced patients. Advanced schistosomiasis was effectively controlled in recent years. Splenectomy could reduce the case fatality of advanced patients. HBV infection, abnormal ALT, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia also predicted the risk of death for advanced patients.

Keywords: Advanced schistosomiasis; Anemia; Fatality; HBV; Splenectomy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • China / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Schistosomiasis / complications
  • Schistosomiasis / epidemiology*
  • Schistosomiasis / mortality