County-Level Hotspot Identification and Spatial Regression Analysis of Health Loss from Kashin-Beck Disease - China,...

We analyzed the spatial distribution of years lived with disability (YLDs) among patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) at the county level across the country, identified hotspot regions and the primary areas of disease burden. This provides a foundation for the prevention and control of KBD and the rational allocation of healthcare resources to regions with high disease burden.

The data were obtained from the National KBD Surveillance System. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was conducted to assess spatial clustering and to identify hotspots of YLDs in patients with KBD. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) models were used to identify counties with limited economic and healthcare resources and a high burden of health losses.

Spatial aggregation of YLDs among patients with KBD was observed nationwide, with hotspots concentrated in diseased counties in western China, including Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan, and in the northern regions of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. Among the variables, the number of health technicians was negatively correlated with the YLD rate of patients with KBD across 2 years (P<0.05). Significant geographical differences were found in the spatial distribution of YLDs, with key disease burden areas in 85 northern counties, including Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Inner Mongolia, and 145 western counties, including Shaanxi, Shanxi, and other provincial-level administrative divisions.

YLDs among patients with KBD at the county level in China demonstrated spatial clustering, with hotspots primarily in the western regions. Strengthening the recruitment and training of health professionals in high-burden, underserved areas may help improve the quality of life of patients.