Updated estimation of the burden of fungal disease in Vietnam

Anecdotally, the burden of fungal diseases in Vietnam is rapidly rising, but there has been no updated estimate on this issue since a previous report in 2015.

In this study, we aimed at estimating the incidence and prevalence of serious fungal infections for the year 2020.

We made estimates with a previously described methodology, using reports on the incidence and prevalence of various established risk factors for fungal infections from local, regional or global sources.

We estimated 2,389,661 cases of serious fungal infection occurred in Vietnam in 2020. The most common condition was recurrent vaginal candidiasis (4047/100,000 women annually). Among people living with HIV, we estimated 451 cases of cryptococcal meningitis, 1030 of pneumocystis pneumonia, 166 of histoplasmosis and 1612 of talaromycosis annually. Candidaemia incidence was estimated at 12/100,000 population each year. Owing to its high burden of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases, Vietnam had high rates of severe infections caused by Aspergillus species. Incidence of invasive aspergillosis is 24/100,000 population, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis 78/100,000 and severe asthma with fungal sensitisation 102/100,000. Five-year period prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is 120/100,000 population /5-year period. Mucormycosis, fungal keratitis and tinea capitis were estimated at 192, 14,431 and 201 episodes each year, respectively.

The number of patients with mycoses in Vietnam is likely underestimated due to a lack of local data and limited diagnostic capacity, but at least 2.5% of the population might have some form of serious fungal disease.