Long-Term Neurological Sequelae and Disease Burden of Japanese Encephalitis in Gansu Province, China

Xuxia Wang; Li Su; Shougang Sun; Wenbiao Hu; Qiuling Mu; Xuefeng Liang; Na Jin; Tian Dai; Hui Li; Guihua Zhuang

doi:10.5334/aogh.3343

Long-Term Neurological Sequelae and Disease Burden of Japanese Encephalitis in Gansu Province, China

Ann Glob Health. 2021 Oct 21;87(1):103. doi: 10.5334/aogh.3343. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Xuxia Wang^{1

2}, Li Su³, Shougang Sun⁴, Wenbiao Hu⁵, Qiuling Mu⁶, Xuefeng Liang⁷, Na Jin⁷, Tian Dai³, Hui Li⁸, Guihua Zhuang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
² Institute of Health Education, Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
³ School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.
⁴ Department of Cardiology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.
⁵ School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, QLD, Australia.
⁶ Gansu health vocational college, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China.
⁷ Institute of Immunization Programme, Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
⁸ Institute of prevention and control of infectious diseases, Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou, 730000, China.

Abstract

Background and objects: The study aimed to evaluate the long-term neurological sequelae and the disease burden of JE in Gansu, China.

Methods: JE patients were included as study population from 2005-2011 in Gansu, and a follow-up survey was conducted in 2007-2014. Pair-matched healthy individuals were selected as controls. All subjects underwent a neurological examination and intelligence quotient (IQ) and memory quotient (MQ) assessments. Then, the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and direct and indirect medical expenses were systematic assessed.

Results: Forty-four point seven percent of the JE patients had objective neurological deficits, compared with 2.4% of controls. Subnormal intelligence was found in 21.2% of JE subjects, compared with 1.2% control who exhibited a mildly reduced IQ. Abnormal MQ scores were noted in 56.3% JE subjects, compared with only 12.7% controls. Prevalence of each sequelae caused by JE were significantly higher in adults than in younger subjects. Furthermore, median DALY lost due to JE was 9.2 per subject. Median economic cost of JE was approximately $2776.6 per subject and significantly higher in adults than in younger subjects.

Findings and conclusions: JE patients suffered from severe neurological sequelae and high disease burden, resulting in a significant downstream burden for both the patients (especially adults) and the healthcare system.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
China / epidemiology
Cost of Illness
Disease Progression
Encephalitis, Japanese* / diagnosis
Encephalitis, Japanese* / epidemiology
Humans
Quality-Adjusted Life Years

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82060614), Natural Science Foundation of Gansu (18JR3RA043) and Gansu Provincial Research Funds for Health Industry (GSWST2010-10).