Abstract:

By searching China Hospital Knowledge Database, WANGFANG DATA, and Pubmed, literature on clinical manifestations (signs/symptoms) of hydatidosis published from the foundation date of the databases to August, 2016, was obtained. The publications were included in the meta-analysis according to the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and R 3.2.3 software to calculate the echinococcosis types, infection rate of organs, severity of the disease and mortality. A total of 165 papers were included in this study, adding up to 18 613 patients. The patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) constitute 93.74% (17 447/18 613) and 5.78% (1 076/18 613), respectively. The lesions occurred more frequently in the liver (63.70%, 11 857/18 613), followed by the lungs (24.13%, 4 492/18 613). The disease severity was classified as asymptomatic (6.17%, 1 139/18 458), mild and moderate (66.12%, 12 204/18 458), and severe (27.71%, 5 115/18 458). The severity of AE was higher than that of CE (χ² = 164.560, P < 0.05). The one-year case fatality rate after surgery was 0.83% (155/18 613). More specifically, the one-year case fatality rate of AE (2.27%, 19/842) after surgery was higher than that of CE (0.70%, 102/14 587) (χ² = 24.811, P < 0.05). In conclusion, liver is the major involved organ in hydatidosis. The severity and mortality of AE are higher than those of CE.

Key words: Echinococcosis, Severity, Meta-analysis