Availability and use of essential medicines in China: manufacturing, supply, and prescribing in Shandong and Gansu provinces

Background  

The current health care reform in China launched in 2009 tackles the problem of access to appropriate medicines for its 1.3 billion people by focusing on providing essential medicines to all. To provide evidence for the reform process, we investigated the manufacturing, purchasing, and prescribing of essential medicines in two provinces.     

佛山市某区1岁以下流动儿童保健服务利用与其母亲孕产期保健服务的相关性研究

目的 探讨1岁以下流动儿童保健服务利用与其母亲孕产期保健服务的相关性,为进一步提高流动儿童保健服务利用提出建议。方法 采用横断面调查,选取佛山市某区1岁以下流动儿童母亲579名为对象,对其进行面对面的问卷调查,利用二分类Logistic分析儿童系统管理与其母亲孕产期保健服务利用的相关性。结果 流动儿童保健服务利用现状为:儿童体检率89.1%,儿童系统管理率49.2%;流动儿童母亲孕产期保健服务利用现状为:产前检查率96.0%,孕早期检查率87.5%,≥5次产前检查率61.5%,住院分娩率99.7%,产后访视率37.3%,孕产妇系统管理率22.2%;多因素分析结果显示母亲产后访视、孕产期系统管理分别与儿童系统管理呈正相关(OR=2.017,95%CI=1.339~3.038;OR=1.941,95%CI=1.208~3.119)。结论 流动人口妇幼保健服务全程利用水平相对较低;母亲产后访视和孕产期系统管理是儿童系统管理的促进因素,提示母亲孕产期保健服务利用的改善可能有助于进一步提高儿童保健服务的利用。     

农村地区0～3岁儿童生长发育的公平性研究

目的 了解农村地区0～3岁儿童生长发育的公平性,探索社会经济因素对儿童生长发育公平性的贡献。方法 收集贵州、山西农村地区的2 120名儿童及其家庭的基本信息;采用WHO 2006年的标准评价儿童的生长发育状况;采用集中曲线和集中指数评价儿童生长发育的公平性,并对集中指数进行分解以分析社会经济因素对儿童生长发育公平性的贡献。结果 调查儿童生长迟缓、低体重、消瘦的集中指数分别为-0.106 2、-0.177 4和-0.074 7,生长迟缓的不公平主要来源于居住地、家庭经济水平、看护人文化程度的差异。结论 加大扶贫力度,并为贫困家庭的儿童提供奶粉、营养包,保障0～6岁儿童健康管理的执行力度和执行质量,进一步推进教育公平等应能在改善儿童整体健康的同时减小儿童的健康差异。     

Sodium and Potassium Excretion of Schoolchildren and Relationship with Their Family Excretion in China

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion in children and the relationships with their family excretion. Using the baseline data of a randomized trial conducted in three cities of China in 2018, a total of 590 children (mean age 8.6 ± 0.4 years) and 1180 adults (mean age 45.8 ± 12.9 years) from 592 families had one or two complete 24-h urine collections. The average sodium, potassium excretion and sodium-to-potassium molar ratio of children were 2180.9 ± 787.1 mg/d (equivalent to 5.5 ± 2.0 g/d of salt), 955.6 ± 310.1 mg/d and 4.2 ± 1.7 respectively, with 77.1% of the participants exceeding the sodium recommendation and 100% below the proposed potassium intake. In mixed models adjusting for confounders, every 1 mg/d increase in sodium excretion of adult family members was associated with a 0.11 mg/d (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.16, p < 0.0001) increase in sodium excretion of children. The family-child regression coefficient corresponds to 0.20 mg/d (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.26, p < 0.0001) per 1 mg/d in potassium and to 0.36 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.45, p < 0.0001) in sodium-to-potassium molar ratio. Children in China are consuming too much sodium and significantly inadequate potassium. The sodium, potassium excretion and sodium-to-potassium ratio of children are associated with their family excretions in small to moderate extent. Efforts are warranted to support salt reduction and potassium enhancement in children through comprehensive strategies engaging with families, schools and food environments.     

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Combined Chemotherapy Regimen Containing Bedaquiline in the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in China*

ObjectiveThis study aims to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the combined chemotherapy regimen containing Bedaquiline (BR) and the conventional treatment regimen (CR, not containing Bedaquiline) for the treatment of adults with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in China.MethodsA combination of a decision tree and a Markov model was developed to estimate the cost and effects of MDR patients in BR and CR within ten years. The model parameter data were synthesized from the literature, the national TB surveillance information system, and consultation with experts. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of BR vs. CR was determined.ResultsBR (vs. CR) had a higher sputum culture conversion rate and cure rate and prevented many premature deaths (decreased by 12.8%), thereby obtaining more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (increased by 2.31 years). The per capita cost in BR was as high as 138,000 yuan, roughly double that of CR. The ICER for BR was 33,700 yuan/QALY, which was lower than China’s 1× per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 (72,400 yuan).ConclusionBR is shown to be cost effective. When the unit price of Bedaquiline reaches or falls below 57.21 yuan per unit, BR is expected to be the dominant strategy in China over CR.     

Bayesian estimation of the effective reproduction number for pandemic influenza A H1N1 in Guangdong Province,China

PurposeDuring the course of a pandemic, it is necessary to understand its transmissibility, which is often summarized by the effective reproduction number. Accurate estimation of the effective reproduction number (R) is of vital significance in real-time decision making for coping with pandemic influenza.MethodsWe used daily case notification data in Guangdong Province, China, in conjunction with Bayesian inference of two different stochastic susceptible, infectious, recovered (SIR) models to estimate the effective reproduction number. The duration of infectiousness was taken from published literature, and the proportion of imported cases was obtained from individual-level data.ResultsAt the initial epidemic phase, 40% of the first 261 cases were not locally acquired. Explicitly accounting for imported cases and different infectious periods, the possible range of basic reproduction number was preliminarily estimated to be between 1.05 and 1.46. We showed how the daily case reports provided valuable information to estimate the effective reproduction number. We also found the potential delay in reporting had a relatively minor impact on estimating R.ConclusionsOur proposed models and findings provide a relevant contribution towards establishing a basis for monitoring the evolution of emerging infectious diseases in real time and understanding the characteristics of pandemic influenza A H1N1 in Guangdong Province.     

T2WI 3.0T盆腔风车采集技术在子宫腺肌症及子宫肌瘤中的应用价值

目的探讨3.0 T风车采集(MVXD)技术T2WI在子宫腺肌症及子宫肌瘤中的应用价值。方法前瞻性收集2018年3月至5月北京协和医院超声证实有子宫肌瘤或临床疑诊为子宫腺肌症的患者,均在围排卵期行盆腔3.0 T MRI检查,采集常规轴面快速自旋回波(TSE)T2WI、轴面MVXD T2WI、矢状面TSE T2WI、矢状面MVXD T2WI图像。2名医师分别对4个序列图像进行子宫轮廓清晰程度、运动伪影、对病变的识别能力、诊断确信程度及整体图像质量评分。采用Cohen Kappa法评价2名医师间评分的一致性,采用Wilcoxon配对符号秩和检验比较采用常规TSE及轴面MVXD序列采集T2WI图像质量的差异。结果20例患者纳入研究,均采集了常规轴面TSE T2WI及轴面MVXD T2WI;19例采集了常规矢状面TSE T2WI及矢状面MVXD T2WI。9例仅存在明显子宫腺肌症病灶,6例仅存在明显子宫肌瘤,5例同时合并子宫腺肌症及子宫肌瘤。和传统的常规TSE序列相比,2名医师采用MVXD序列采集的矢状面T2WI和轴面T2WI中,均对子宫轮廓清晰程度、运动伪影、整体图像质量方面的评分更高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2名医师对图像评价的Kappa值为0.615~0.971,一致性均为好或非常好。结论将T2WI MVXD技术应用于子宫肌瘤或子宫腺肌症患者,相较于常规T2WI技术有利于改善图像质量,且不牺牲对病变的识别、诊断能力。     

Early response to the emergence of influenza A(H7N9) virus in humans in China: the central role of prompt information sharing and public communication

Problem

In 2003, China’s handling of the early stages of the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was heavily criticized and generally considered to be suboptimal.

Approach

Following the SARS outbreak, China made huge investments to improve surveillance, emergency preparedness and response capacity and strengthen public health institutions. In 2013, the return on these investments was evaluated by investigating China’s early response to the emergence of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in humans.

Local setting

Clusters of human infection with a novel influenza virus were detected in China – by national surveillance of pneumonia of unknown etiology – on 26 February 2013.

Relevant changes

On 31 March 2013, China notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the first recorded human infections with A(H7N9) virus. Poultry markets – which were rapidly identified as a major source of transmission of A(H7N9) to humans – were closed down in the affected areas. Surveillance in humans and poultry was heightened and technical guidelines were quickly updated and disseminated. The health authorities collaborated with WHO in risk assessments and risk communication. New cases were reported promptly and publicly.

Lessons learnt

The relevant infrastructures, surveillance systems and response capacity need to be strengthened in preparation for future emergencies caused by emerging or existing disease threats. Results of risk assessments and other data should be released promptly and publicly and such release should not jeopardize future publication of the data in scientific journals. Coordination between public health and veterinary services would be stronger during an emergency if these services had already undertaken joint preparedness planning.     

Immunogenicity of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Chinese infants

BackgroundA phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted in China to assess the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq^TM, RV5) among Chinese infants. The efficacy and safety data have been previously reported. This report presents the immunogenicity data of the study.Methods4,040 infants aged 6–12 weeks were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive 3 oral doses of RV5 or placebo. Trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (tOPV) and diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) were administered in a staggered-use (N = 3,240) or concomitant-use (N = 800) schedule. Immunogenicity of RV5 was evaluated in 800 participants (400 participants from each staggered- and concomitant-use immunogenicity subgroup). Geometric mean titers (GMTs) and seroresponse rates (≥3-fold rise from baseline to PD3) were measured for anti-rotavirus IgA in the staggered- and concomitant-use subgroups and measured for serum neutralizing antibodies (SNAs) to human rotavirus serotypes G1, G2, G3, G4, P1A[8] in the staggered-use subgroup. Immune responses to tOPV and DTaP co-administered with RV5 were also evaluated in the concomitant-use immunogenicity subgroup. (ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT02062385)ResultsThe PD3 GMT and seroresponse rate of anti-rotavirus IgA were higher in the RV5 group (82.42 units/mL, 89.4%) compared to the placebo group (0.33 units/mL, 10.1%). Rotavirus type-specific SNA responses were also higher in the RV5 group compared to the placebo group. In the concomitant-use subgroup, the seroprotection rates of anti-poliovirus type 1, 2, 3 in the participants who received RV5 were non-inferior to those who received placebo, and the antibody responses to DTaP antigens were comparable between the two vaccination groups.ConclusionsRV5 was immunogenic in Chinese infants. Immune responses induced by tOPV and DTaP were not affected by the concomitant use of RV5.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎流行对HIV感染者卫生需求影响的快速评估

目的 了解新型冠状病毒肺炎暴发流行对HIV感染者卫生需求影响，为政府和感染者社区快速制定应对措施提供参考依据。方法 于2020年2月5-10日，通过网络招募年满18周岁并已开始服用抗反转录病毒药物（ARV）的HIV感染者参加网络匿名调查，了解新型冠状病毒肺炎流行期间，受访者在预防新型冠状病毒肺炎、获取HIV防治相关服务和心理支持需求等方面的信息。结果 调查共收集1 014份来自全国各省的HIV感染者的调查问卷，93.79%的调查对象表示自己所在的社区提供了新型冠状病毒肺炎的预防信息，同时更加关心HIV感染者相关的新型冠状病毒肺炎预防措施以及防护品短缺问题；32.64%的调查对象表示自己现有的ARV不足以满足交通和旅行管制期间的需求，其中部分感染者在未来1个月面临断药风险。湖北省需要补充药物的HIV感染者中，64.15%的人表示因为"封锁和行动受限"而难以获得HIV治疗药物。调查还发现，28.93%的调查对象希望获得社会心理支持；对政府的期待方面，85.31%的调查对象希望可以进一步完善HIV感染者异地取药流程。结论 HIV感染者希望了解该人群预防新型冠状病毒肺炎暴发的相关信息，部分返乡或居住在交通管制地区的感染者，仍存在定期领药等方面的困难。疫情形势下，HIV感染者获取药物面临困难，我们应当进一步开展系统调查了解新型冠状病毒肺炎流行对HIV感染的影响，并提高卫生系统应急储备和处置能力。