Abstract:

Objective: To analyze the epidemic characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among students in Sichuan during 13th Five-Year period, in order to provide reference for optimizing TB prevention and control in schools. Methods: Data about TB epidemic situation and population of students, including age, gender, region, detection, medical information, diagnosis results, etc., were collected from the Infectious Diseases Reporting System, Tuberculosis Information Management System and Sichuan Yearbook were collected from 2016 to 2020. A retrospective description was used to analyze the spatial, temporal and population distribution of PTB in students, the detection and the delay of treatment. Results: From 2016 to 2020, a total of 253582 PTB cases were reported in Sichuan, including 19540 student cases (7.71%), incidence rate of students increased year by year, from 5.39% (2905/53865) in 2016 to 10.47% (4839/46218) in 2020 ( {\chi }_{\mathrm{t}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{d}}^2=1030.301, P<0.01). For students, the reported peaks PTB were in March and April (16.97% (493/2905) and 10.29% (299/2905)) in 2016, March (14.20% (493/3471)) and December (11.67% (405/3471)) in 2017, March (15.56% (630/4049), 14.43% (617/4276)) and September (11.43% (463/4049), 10.69% (457/4276)) in 2018 and 2019, May (14.51% (702/4839)), August (10.99% (532/4839)) and September (11.43% (553/4839)) in 2020. In 2020, 2021 cases (120.29/100000, 2021/1680000) of PTB were reported in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, increased by 118.71% in comparison with that in 2016 (55.00/100000, 801/1434000). In the other regions in Sichuan, 2818 cases (21.15/100000, 2818/13326000) of PTB were reported in 2020, increased by 29.60% in comparison with that in 2016 (16.33/100000, 2104/12888000). The proportion of students aged 15 and younger increased year by year, from 17.93% (441/2459) in 2016 to 28.77% (1272/4422) in 2020, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=200.120, P<0.01). The proportion of Yi and Tibetan increased year by year, from 20.01% (492/2459) in 2016 to 41.09% (1817/4422) in 2020. The proportion found in physical examination increased year by year, from 5.77% (142/2459) in 2016 to 8.25% (365/4422) in 2020, with a statistically significant difference (χ²=53.234, P<0.01). The proportion of positive etiology increased year by year, from 14.76% (363/2459) in 2016 to 34.31% (1517/4422) in 2020, with a statistically significant difference (χ²=748.482, P<0.01). The delay rate of student patients was 53.50% (9060/16936), and the median delay was 16 days. Conclusion: From 2016 to 2020, the PTB incidence in students was on the rise; in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture and Aba Tibetan, the epidemic situation was more serious.

Key words: Tuberculosis,pulmonary, Students, Epidemiologic study characteristics as topic