Effect of different vaccine strategies for the control of Japanese encephalitis in mainland China from 1961 to 2020: A quantitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to quantify the impact of each vaccine strategy (including the P3-inactivated vaccine strategy [1968-1987], the SA 14-14-2 live-attenuated vaccine strategy [1988-2007], and the Expanded Program on Immunization [EPI, 2008-2020]) on the incidence of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in regions with different economic development levels. METHODS: The JE incidence in mainland China from 1961 to 2020 was summarized by year, then modeled and analyzed using an interrupted time series analysis. RESULTS: After the P3-inactivated vaccine was used, the JE incidence in Eastern China, Central China, Western China and Northeast China in 1968 decreased by 39.80 % (IRR = 0.602, P < 0.001), 7.80 % (IRR = 0.922, P < 0.001), 10.80 % (IRR = 0.892, P < 0.001) and 31.90 % (IRR = 0.681, P < 0.001); the slope/trend of the JE incidence from 1968 to 1987 decreased by 30.80 % (IRR = 0.692, P < 0.001), 29.30 % (IRR = 0.707, P < 0.001), 33.00 % (IRR = 0.670, P < 0.001) and 41.20 % (IRR = 0.588, P < 0.001). After the SA 14-14-2 live-attenuated vaccine was used, the JE incidence in Eastern China and Northeast China in 1988 decreased by 2.60 % (IRR = 0.974, P = 0.009) and 14.70 % (IRR = 0.853, P < 0.001); the slope/trend of the JE incidence in Eastern China and Central China from 1988 to 2007 decreased by 4.60 % (IRR = 0.954, P < 0.001) and 4.70 % (IRR = 0.953, P < 0.001). After the EPI was implemented, the JE incidence in Eastern China, Central China and Western China in 2008 decreased by 10.50 % (IRR = 0.895, P = 0.013), 18.00 % (IRR = 0.820, P < 0.001) and 24.20 % (IRR = 0.758, P < 0.001), the slope/trend of the JE incidence in Eastern China from 2008 to 2020 decreased by 17.80 % (IRR = 0.822, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Each vaccine strategy has different effects on the JE incidence in regions with different economic development. Additionally, some economically underdeveloped regions have gradually become the main areas of the JE outbreak. Therefore, mainland China should provide economic assistance to areas with low economic development and improve JE vaccination plans in the future to control the epidemic of JE.

Impact of the expanded program on immunization on the incidence of Japanese encephalitis in different regions of Mainland China: An interrupt time series analysis.

In 2008, Mainland China included the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to control the JE epidemic. However, Northwest China experienced the largest JE outbreak since 1994 in 2018, and the effects of the EPI in different regions are unclear. Therefore, we used an interrupted time series design to evaluate the effects of the EPI in different regions. In this study, ß1 and ß1+ß3 represented the slope or trend of the JE incidence before and after the EPI, respectively; ß2 was the level change of the JE incidence immediately after the EPI; ß3 represented the slope change of the JE incidence before and after the EPI. We found that the JE incidence in all regions showed a decreasing trend before the EPI (ß1<0.000, P<0.05). The JE incidence in Mainland China (ß2=-7.669, P<0.05), East China (ß2=-9.791, P<0.05), Central China (ß2=-10.695, P<0.05), South China (ß2=-6.551, P<0.05) and Southwest China (ß2=-2.216, P<0.05) decreased by 7.669/100,000, 9.791/100,000, 10.695/100,000, 6.551/100,000 and 2.216/100,000 immediately after the EPI, and the EPI had short-term effects on the JE incidence in these regions. The slope of the JE incidence in Mainland China (ß3=0.272, P<0.05), East China (ß3=0.337, P<0.05), Central China (ß3=0.381, P<0.05), South China (ß3=0.254, P<0.05) and Southwest China (ß3=0.081, P<0.05) increased by 0.272, 0.337, 0.381, 0.254 and 0.081 after the EPI, and the EPI had long-term effects on the JE incidence in these regions. The JE incidence in many regions (excluding North China) showed a decreasing trend after the EPI (ß1+ß3 <0.000). Northwest China (GDP from 2008 to 2020 ranked last in Mainland China) and Southwest China (GDP from 2008 to 2020 ranked fifth in Mainland China), with underdeveloped economy, used to be low-epidemic regions of JE, but they have become high-epidemic regions in recent years. Economic development may contribute to the geographic variations in the effects of the EPI. Therefore, it is significant for JE control in Mainland China to increase support for underdeveloped regions and adjust the vaccine strategy according to the new epidemic situation of JE.

Current practice and barriers to ICU-acquired weakness assessment: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Intensive-care-unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) not only leads to difficulty weaning off mechanical ventilation, prolonged hospital stay and increased medical costs, but also reduces the patient's quality of life after discharge and increases the 1-year mortality rate. Early identification and intervention can improve the prognosis of critically ill patients. However, much remains unknown about current clinical practice for ICU-AW assessment by ICU staff in China. OBJECTIVES: To investigate current practices and barriers to ICU-AW assessment among ICU staff, and provide insights to improve ICU-AW assessment in ICUs in China. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were used to construct a survey questionnaire (test-retest reliability 0.92, validity 0.96). This survey was subsequently completed by 3206 ICU staff from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. RESULTS: In total, 3206 ICU staff responded to the survey (response rate 90%): 616 doctors (19%), 2371 nurses (74%), 129 respiratory therapists (4%), 51 physiotherapists (2%) and 39 dieticians (1%). Only 27% of the respondents had treated/cared for patients with ICU-AW. Reported methods for ICU-AW assessment were clinical experience (53%), ICU-AW assessment tools (12%), and physiotherapy consultation (35%). Forty-three percent of respondents felt that their ICU-AW-related knowledge did not meet clinical needs, only 10% had received ICU-AW-related training, and 19% proactively assessed whether their patients had ICU-AW. In terms of frequency of assessment, 42%, 16% and 11% of respondents considered that ICU-AW should be assessed daily, every 3 days, and on ICU admission and discharge, respectively. The Medical Research Council scale, electrophysiological assessment and the Manual Muscle Testing scale were considered to be optimal tools for ICU-AW diagnosis by 79%, 70%, and 73% of respondents, respectively. The main reported barriers to ICU-AW assessment were lack of knowledge, cognitive impairment among patients, and lack of ICU-AW assessment guidelines and procedures. CONCLUSION: Current practices for ICU-AW assessment are non-specific, and the main barriers include lack of skills and knowledge.

[Current practice and obstacle factors of intensive care unit-acquired weakness assessment].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) assessment, analyze the assessment barriers, and to provide reference to improve ICU-AW assessment. METHODS: A convenient sampling cross-sectional survey was conducted. First, an interview outline which based on related domestic and international literatures and combining with the research purpose of this study were designed. Thirteen medical personnel (8 ICU nurses, 3 ICU doctors, 1 respiratory therapist and 1 physiotherapist) who worked in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University were enrolled with convenience sampling method to interview. Second, the topics were comprehensively analyzed and extracted, and then a questionnaire was constructed, and the reliability and validity was assessed. Finally, the questionnaire survey including the general situation of ICU medical staffs, the current practices of ICU-AW and influencing factors was implemented in China. RESULTS: The retest reliability was 0.92 and expert validity was 0.96 of the questionnaire. There were 3 563 respondents in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions which eliminated 357 unqualified questionnaires, including 173 respondents from neonatal or pediatric ICU, 89 respondents whose working time was less than 6 months, and 95 invalid respondents, and then there were finally 3 206 valid questionnaires and the response rate were 90.0%. Those 3 206 respondents included 616 doctors (19.2%), 2 371 nurses (74.0%), 129 respiratory therapists (4.0%), 51 physiotherapist (1.6%) and 39 dietitians (1.2%). The mean age was (30.7±6.3) years old. Most of them had bachelor's degree (65.9%), master and above was 14.1%. Associate senior physician and above was 8.0%; ICU working time was (5.94±4.50) years. In clinical practice, only 26.5% of the ICU medical staffs confirmed that they had treated or taken care for ICU-AW patients; 52.9% of medical staffs evaluated ICU-AW only based on clinical experience, and only 12.3% used ICU-AW assessment tools. The majority of respondents believed that ICU-AW knowledge training should be performed (81.8%), ICU-AW assessment should be as important as other complications (pressure sore, infected ventilator associated pneumonia, etc., 75.1%), and ICU-AW assessment should be part of daily treatment and care activities (61.2%). However, only 10.2% of respondents had received ICU-AW related knowledge training, and 42.7% respondents believed that their ICU-AW related knowledge could not meet clinical needs. Only 18.7% respondents would actively assess whether patients suffered from ICU-AW or not, and 42.3% respondents thought that ICU-AW should be assessed every day, and the assessment tools were also inconsistent. There were 44.0% respondents considered the Medical Research Council Muscle score (MRC-score) scale was the optimal tool for diagnosing ICU-AW, the following were neuro-electrophysiological examination (17.2%) and manual muscle strength (MMT, 11.1%). The main cause of the ICU-AW assessment barriers was the lack of ICU-AW related knowledge (88.1%), and the following were lack of ICU-AW assessment guidelines (76.5%), patients' cognitive impairment or limited understanding ability (84.6%), unable to cooperate with the assessment due to critical illness (83.0%), and inadequate attention to ICU-AW assessment by the department (77.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The current status of ICU-AW assessment were unsatisfying in China, and the main barriers were lack of skills and knowledge.

[Disease burden of liver cancer in Jinchang cohort].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current status of the disease burden of liver cancer in Jinchang cohort. METHODS: All the liver cancer death data from 2001 to 2013 and medical records of liver cancer cases from 2001 to 2010 in Jinchang cohort were collected for the analyses of the mortality, standardized mortality, potential years of life lost (PYLL) and working PYLL (WPYLL) associated with liver cancer. Spearman correlation and the average growth rate were used to analyze the trends. RESULTS: A total of 207 liver cancer deaths occurred in Jinchang cohort from 2001 to 2013, accounting for 16.68% of total cancer deaths. There were 259 liver cancer inpatients, accounting for 6.79% of the total cancer cases inpatients, in which 83 died (32.05%). Liver cancer death mainly occurred in males, accounting for 88.89%, and the liver cancer deaths in females accounted for 11.11%. The standardized mortality rate was 42.32/100,000 in males and 15.31/100,000 in females. The growth rate of liver cancer mortality was 5.62% from 2001 to 2013. Liver cancer deaths mainly occurred in age groups 60-69 years (26.57%) and 50-59 years (24.15%). The PYLL was 2906.76 person-years, the average PYLL was 14.04 years. The WPYLL was 1477.00 person-years and the average WPYLL was 7.14 years. The direct economic burden of liver cancer was 6270.78 Yuan per person, 301.75 Yuan per day. The average stay of hospitalization was 21.32 days. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate of liver cancer is increasing and the disease burden is still heavy.

Quality assessment of clinical guidelines in China: 1993 - 2010.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) play an important role in healthcare in China as well as in the world. However, the current status and trends of Chinese CPGs are unknown. The aim of this study was to systematically review the present situation and the quality of Chinese CPGs published in the peer-reviewed medical literature. METHODS: To identify Chinese CPGs, a systematic search of relevant literature databases (CBM, WANFANG, VIP, and CNKI) was performed for the period January 1978 to December 2010. We used the AGREE II instrument to assess the quality of the included guidelines. RESULTS: We evaluated 269 guidelines published in 115 medical journals from 1993 to 2010 and produced by 256 different developers. Only four guidelines (1%) described the systematic methods for searching and selecting the evidence, 14 (5%) guidelines indicated an explicit link between the supporting evidence and the recommendations, only one guideline used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Thirty-one guidelines (12%) mentioned updates and the average frequency of update was 5.5 years; none described a procedure for updating the guideline. From the assessment with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Ecaluation II (AGREE II), the mean scores were low for the domains "scope and purpose" (19%) and "clarity of presentation" (26%) and very low for the other domains ("rigour of development" 7%, "stakeholder involvement" 8%, "applicability" 6% and "editorial independence" 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other studies on the quality of guidelines assessed with the AGREE instrument in other countries, Chinese CPGs received lower scores, which indicates a relatively poor quality of the guidelines. However, there was some increase over time.