ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trends of chronic disease mortality among children aged 0-14 in China during 2012-2021, so as to provide scientific basis for the formulation of prevention strategies for chronic diseases in children.@*Methods@#The descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted for chronic disease mortality among children aged 0-14 during 2012 to 2021 from China Cause of Death Surveillance Data Set, and the Joinpoint regression models were used to analyze the average annual percentage change (AAPC) of child chronic disease mortality.@*Results@#From 2012 to 2021, the mortality rates of chronic diseases among children aged 0-14 years in China (23.33/100 000, 19.54/100 000, 19.27/100 000, 17.69/ 100 000 , 16.87/100 000, 16.44/100 000, 14.49/100 000, 13.79/100 000, 11.61/100 000, 9.43/100 000)showed a decreasing trend (AAPC=-7.94%, P <0.01). The overall mortality rates for boys and girls and for chronic diseases were decreasing in both urban and rural areas (AAPC=-8.44%, -7.05%, -8.42%, -6.77%, P <0.05). The average annual mortality rate of chronic diseases was higher in boys (16.81/100 000) than in girls (13.96/100 000) ( χ 2=526.44, P <0.01). The average annual mortality rate from chronic diseases among children was higher in urban (15.98/100 000) than in rural areas (13.46/100 000) in the central region, and higher in rural (19.75/100 000) than in urban areas (15.96/100 000) in the western region ( χ 2=117.63, 190.25, P < 0.01 ). Except for malignant tumors, the trend of overall mortality rates of congenital abnormalities, neurological and mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and digestive system diseases were all decreasing (AAPC=-11.48%, -2.92%, -7.82%, -12.51 %, P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#The overall mortality rate of chronic diseases in children in China shows a downward trend during 2012-2021, but the situation of chronic disease prevention and control is still severe. Targeted prevention strategies should be adopted, focusing on the prevention and health care of males, children under 5 years old.