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Du WY, Yin CN, Wang HT, Li ZW, Wang WJ, Xue FZ, Zhao L, Cao WC. Infectious diseases among elderly persons: Results from a population-based observational study in Shandong province, China, 2013-2017. J Glob Health 2022; 11:08010. [PMID: 35003717 PMCID: PMC8710039 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.08010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The health of the elderly is one of the major challenges in today's ageing society. However, research on infectious diseases among the elderly is limited. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics and dynamics of infectious diseases among the elderly population aged ≥60 years in Shandong province, China. Methods Incidence data for infectious diseases were collected from the Shandong Multi-Center Healthcare Big Data Platform from January 2013 to June 2017, which involved 550 432 elderly persons. We compared the incidence of each infectious disease and disease category, stratified by age, gender, and region. Annual percentage change (APC) was estimated using logarithmic linear regression to examine the incidence trends. Poisson regression was conducted to identify the effect of demographic factors on incidence, with incidence rate ratio (IRR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated. Results A total of 27 595 cases of 102 infectious diseases were reported during the study period, with an overall incidence of 1425.51/100 000 person-years. The most common infectious diseases were respiratory and mucocutaneous diseases among the elderly persons, with annual increases of 17.45% and 20.44%, respectively (both P<0.05). In rural areas, the incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal, blood- and sex-transmitted, and mucocutaneous infections increased significantly, with APCs of 178.52%, 204.66%, 28.24%, 63.01%, respectively (all P<0.05). Elderly males had a higher risk of infections than that of females, with the highest IRRa of 2.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.89, 3.00) in respiratory diseases. The elderly aged 85-89 years had a much higher risk of respiratory diseases than those aged 60-64 years (IRRa = 9.85, 95%CI: 9.39, 10.33); however, the risk of blood- and sex-transmitted diseases was highest among the elderly aged 65-69 years (IRRa = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.45). Conclusions Ageing population are facing a substantial challenge on infectious diseases. More attention should be paid to infections with significant growth. Targeted strategies and measures on elderly persons in different regions and subgroups are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Du
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chao-Nan Yin
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hai-Tao Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhen-Wei Li
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wen-Jing Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fu-Zhong Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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