A cross-sectional study of Kaschin-Beck disease areas and epidemic situation in Harbin

Objective To master the area scope and epidemic situation of Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) in Harbin, and to accumulate data and information for the midterm examination and evaluation of "the 12th Five-Year Plan of the National Endemic Disease Prevention and Control". Methods In the original 10 counties (districts, cities) of Harbin with KBD, 2 surveys were carried out from 2011 to 2015, 5 townships were extracted in each county (district, city), 3 villages were extracted in each township, clinical investigation and X-ray examination of 7 - 12 years old children were carried out; according to the criteria for "Diagnosis of Kaschin-Beck Disease", a clinical survey was conducted in 2013 in the 10 counties (districts, cities) with KBD. According to the KBD prevalence and X-ray examination results in each county (district, city), reference to "Criteria for Control of Kaschin-Beck Disease Areas", "Criteria for Delimitation and Classification of Kaschin-Beck Disease Area", "Evaluation Methods for Endemic Diseases Control and Elimination", the types of the disease areas, control and eliminating situation were determined; organization and management of the control and prevention measures were evaluated. Results Currently, there were 10 counties (districts, cities), 373 villages, 6 969 patients with KBD in Harbin. According to the KBD area division and control standard, 369 villages were light KBD areas (prevalence of clinical degrees Ⅰ and above patients or detection rate of 7 - 12 children by X-ray for local residents ≤10%) and 4 villages were medium KBD areas (prevalence of clinical degrees Ⅰ and above patients or detection rate of 7 - 12 children by X-ray for local residents > 10% - ≤20%). Clinical census showed that the people under 20 years had no cases with degree Ⅰ and above in each village, X-ray detection rate was 0 in 7 - 12 years old children, in line with the standards of history KBD areas. There were no clinical KBD cases in 7 - 12 years old children in all villages of KBD areas, positive detection rate of children by X-ray was 0 in the sampling KBD area villages, in line with the standards of eliminate technical standards of KBD area village. The management index scores of KBD were from 85 to 95 points in every area county (district, city), getting to the eliminating requirement which was more than 85 points. Conclusion The KBD areas have narrowed down and prevalence has declined significantly in Harbin, which has reached the area eliminating standards and the index of basically eliminating KBD proposed by "the 12th Five-Year Plan". Key words: Kaschin-Beck disease; Disease areas; Epidemic situation; Cross-sectional study