[Epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis A in China, 2005-2023].

Objective: To analyze epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis A in China from 2005 to 2023. Methods: The incidence data of hepatitis A in China during 2005-2023 were collected from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System . Results: From 2005 to 2023, a total of 605 509 cases of hepatitis A were reported in China. The average annual reported incidence rate was 2.32/100 000, the incidence was 2.85/100 000 in men and 1.81/100 000 in women, and the incidence was 3.25/100 000 in age group 0-14 years, 2.10/100 000 in age group 15-64 years and 2.49/100 000 in age group ≥65 years , respectively. The case count in farmers was highest (40.57%, 245 639/605 509). The proportion of the cases in jobless or the unemployed increased most obviously (347.32%), and the proportion of the cases in students decreased most significantly (90.27%). The average annual reported incidence rate in the western China was highest (4.45/100 000), followed by that in northeastern China (2.02/100 000), central China (1.89/100 000) and eastern China (1.16/100 000). From 2020 to 2023, the incidence of hepatitis A showed no spatial clustering. From 2005 to 2019, the obvious hot spots and high-high clustering areas mainly distributed in provinces, such as, Sichuan, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang and Gansu. The low-low clustering areas were mainly distributed in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jilin and Liaoning. An independent high-low clustering was found in Shanxi during 2014-2019. A total of 5 high incidence clustering areas were detected through spatiotemporal scanning analysis. Conclusions: The incidence rate of hepatitis A in China declined significantly from 2005 to 2023. The reported incidence rate in the elderly showed no obvious decrease, and the reported cases accounted for the highest proportion in the whole population. Before 2020, the reported incidence rate of hepatitis A showed high-high clustering in western China, the spatiotemporal clustering disappeared from 2020 to 2023, but the reported incidence rate of hepatitis A in western China was still high. It is suggested to pay attention to the prevention and control of hepatitis A in populations at high risk and areas with high incidence of hepatitis A.