Evaluation of trend and mortality pattern of communicable diseases in a teaching institution in Kerala

Even in this era of epidemiologic transition communicable disease is still a major public health problem. Surveillance and timely prevention and control activities are the key to the reduction of morbidity and mortality of communicable diseases. Identifying the trend in communicable diseases and pattern of mortality for a period of ten years will be an insight into the ongoing surveillance.

In this study we have analysed data from 2013 to 2022 to evaluate the trend and mortality pattern of communicable diseases in a teaching institution in Kerala.

A retrospective record-based cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kottayam.

All confirmed communicable disease cases reported from 2013 to 2022 were included in this study except COVID-19-positive cases. The communicable diseases were grouped as: airborne, waterborne, vector-borne, zoonosis, bloodborne diseases and others. SPSS version 20.0 software, Microsoft Word, and Excel were used in data handling and analysis.

Total cases reported were 48124. The majority of the morbidity was due to airborne diseases (17585,37%) followed by waterborne diseases (6381, 13%). The total number of deaths reported was 1842. Airborne and zoonotic diseases together accounted for more than 50% of the mortality. Case fatality rate of zoonosis (20.2%) was the highest followed by bloodborne diseases (10.2%).

Communicable diseases still continue as a public health problem contributing to morbidity and mortality. Airborne diseases and zoonotic diseases constitute the maximum mortality.