%0 Systematic Review
%T Disparities in burden of herpes simplex virus type 2 in China: systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions.
%A Wang Y
%A Yan X
%A Ai W
%A Jia Y
%A Fan C
%A Hu S
%A Dai Y
%A Xue H
%A Li F
%A Tang W
%J Front Immunol
%V 15
%N 0
%D 2024
%M 39104540
%F 8.786
%R 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1369086
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The rising prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) infection poses a growing global public health challenge. A comprehensive understanding of its epidemiology and burden disparities in China is crucial for informing targeted and effective intervention strategies in the future.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We followed Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines for a systematic review and included publications published in Chinese and English bibliographic systems until March 31st, 2024. We synthesized HSV-2 seroprevalence data across different population types. We used random-effects models for meta-analyses and conducted meta-regression to assess the association between population characteristics and seroprevalence.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Overall, 23,999 articles were identified, and 402 publications (1,203,362 participants) that reported the overall seroprevalence rates (858 stratified measures) were included. Pooled HSV-2 seroprevalence among the general population (lower risk) was 7.7% (95% CI: 6.8-8.7%). Compared to the general population, there is a higher risk of HSV-2 prevalence among intermediate-risk populations (14.8%, 95% CI: 11.0-19.1%), and key populations (31.7%, 95% CI: 27.4-36.1%). Female sexual workers (FSWs) have the highest HSV-2 risk (ARR:1.69, 95% CI: 1.61-1.78). We found northeastern regions had a higher HSV-2 seroprevalence than other regions (17.0%, 95% CI: 4.3-35.6%, ARR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.26-1.50, Northern China as the reference group). This highlighted the disparity by population risk levels and regions. We also found lower HSV-2 prevalence estimates in publications in Chinese bibliographic databases than those in English databases among key populations (such as MSM and HIV-discordant populations).<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>There is a gradient increase in HSV-2 prevalence risk stratification. We also identified region, population, and age disparities and heterogeneities by publication language in the HSV-2 burden. This study provides guidance for future HSV-2 prevention to eliminate disparities of HSV-2 infection and reduce overall HSV-2 burden.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=408108, identifier CRD42023408108.