Epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of hepatitis C in southeast coastal areas of China from 2015 to 2022.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of hepatitis C in Fujian Province, China, from 2015 to 2022, and to provide reference for the risk identification, early warning and prevention and control measures of hepatitis C in Fujian Province.

Methods: The incidence data of hepatitis C in Fujian Province from 2015 to 2022 were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Descriptive epidemiology method and JRP 4.9.1.0 software were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Fujian Province from 2015 to 2022. ArcGIS 10.8 software was used for spatial autocorrelation analysis of the reported incidence of hepatitis C, and SaTScan 10.1.3 software was used for spatio-temporal scanning analysis.

Results: A total of 18,712 cases of hepatitis C were reported in Fujian Province from 2015 to 2022, and the annual reported incidence showed a decreasing trend (AAPC =-10.4, P < 0.001). Males were more affected, accounting for 55.7% (n = 10,429) of all reported hepatitis C cases compared to 44.3% (n = 8,283) for females. Among all age groups, the number of cases in people aged 40-60 was the largest, accounting for 43.2%. Autocorrelation analysis showed that the reported cases of hepatitis C from 2015 to 2022 were clustered, and the global Moran´s I values were all greater than 0 (P < 0.001). Local autocorrelation analysis showed that the high-high concentration area of hepatitis C incidence was relatively fixed and concentrated in the Putian city. The spatial and temporal scanning analysis detected one largest possible agglomeration area, Xiuyu District of Putian city, and two type II agglomeration areas were mainly distributed in economically developed cities along the coastal line.

Conclusions: The reported incidence of hepatitis C in Fujian province showed a downward trend from 2015 to 2022, and there were obvious epidemic characteristics and spatial-temporal clustering of hepatitis C. Attention should be paid not only to the key population of 40-60 years old males in rural areas and the key gathering areas in Putian City, but also to the incidence of hepatitis C in southeast coastal areas.