Epidemiological characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Hunan province
HU Shi-xiong, XU Qiao-hua, LUO Kai-wei, YANG Hao, SUN Qian-lai, LIU Zi-yan, ZHAO Shan-lu, ZENG Ge, ZHANG Heng-jiao, DAI Zhi-hui, XIAO Jie-hua, GAO Li-dong
Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan 410005, China
Abstract：Objective To identify the epidemiological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hunan province so as to provide a scientific basis for effectively containing the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to retrospectively analyze the epidemiological characteristics regarding confirmed COVID-19 cases and patients with asymptomatic 2019-nCoV infection in Hunan province from January 1 and February 8 in 2020 in the province. Results The COVID-19 epidemic spread to 76.9% of counties/cities in Hunan province. On the whole, the imported cases were identified as the first source, accounting for 49.4% (χ2=701.61, P<0.01). However, a significant decline was observed in the epidemic since February 2020, with the first source shifting to locally clustered cases (Z=-2.10, P=0.04). The median ages of the confirmed cases and the patients with asymptomatic 2019-nCoV infection were 44 and 35 years, respectively, and the proportion of asymptomatic infection was found to be relatively higher in the group aged 3-18 years (χ2=65.52, P<0.01). The average interval from onset to first visiting-doctor behavior was 2.6 days, that from onset to diagnosis 5.3 days, and that from isolation to diagnosis 2.1 days. As time went on, the intervals from onset to first visiting-doctor behavior as well as from onset to diagnosis were significantly shortened (the former: Z=-5.74, P<0.01; the latter: Z=-7.72, P<0.01). The higher the proportion of a history of underlying diseases, the severer the COVID-19 (Z=2.71, P<0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 epidemic in Hunan has shifted from imported-centered infection to local-centered infection. A prevention and control strategy with focus on containing epidemic spreading and avoiding close contact among people is needed to remain; meanwhile, strengthening the screening and management of closecontacts involved in the epidemic is also necessary.
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2020, Vol. 27 
