Epidemiological trends and features of syphilis in China, 2014—2019 / 中华皮肤科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate epidemiological trends and characteristics of syphilis in China from 2014 to 2019, and to provide evidence for developing prevention and control strategies.Methods:A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted to analyze personal, spatial and temporal distribution of syphilis cases reported in China from 2014 to 2019.Results:The reported incidence rate of syphilis in China increased from 30.93 per 100 000 in 2014 to 38.37 per 100 000 in 2019, with an average annual increase rate of 4.41%. From 2014 to 2019, the average annual rates of decrease in primary and secondary syphilis and congenital syphilis were 10.95% and 26.16% respectively, and the average annual rates of increase in tertiary syphilis and latent syphilis were 1.61% and 10.75% respectively. The reported incidence rate was high in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Zhejiang, Hainan and Fujian, etc. From 2014 to 2019, the reported annual incidence rate of syphilis was slightly lower in males than in females, and the male-to-female ratio ranged from 0.86∶1 to 0.96∶1. The population aged 15-19 years showed a rapid yearly increase in the reported incidence rate, with an average annual increase rate of 13.54%. The reported annual incidence rate of syphilis peaked in the population aged 25-34 years during 2014-2018, and in the population aged 20-24 years in 2019. Syphilis cases were reported in all occupational groups, the largest proportion of cases was found in farmers and migrant workers (41.19%-46.80%) , and the highest average annual increase rate of 20.72% was observed in students. Among all stages of syphilis, the proportions of primary syphilis and secondary syphilis decreased yearly, while the proportion of latent syphilis increased year by year, and went up to 82.95% in 2019.Conclusion:There was a yearly increase in the total reported incidence rate of syphilis in China from 2014 to 2019, but the reported incidence rates of primary syphilis and secondary syphilis decreased yearly; a rapid increase in the reported incidence rate of syphilis was observed among young people; farmers and migrant workers were the most affected populations; some regions in northwest China and southeastern coastal provinces showed relatively high reported incidence rates.