What is a Hotspot Anyway?
What is a Hotspot Anyway?
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DOI：
10.4269/ajtmh.16-0427
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发表时间：
2017-06
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Moore SM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Lessler J;Azman AS;McKay HS;Moore SM
空间集群或“热点”在传染病流行病学中的重要性已得到越来越多的认识，以热点为目标往往被视为疾病控制战略的重要组成部分。然而，在当前的研究和政策文件中，“热点”的确切含义差异很大。热点地区被不同地描述为发病率或流行率升高、传播效率或风险较高或出现疾病的可能性较高的地区。这种含糊不清导致了混乱，并可能导致对最佳干预方式的错误推断。我们调查了有关流行病学热点的文献，检查了该术语的多种使用方式；并强调了热点的地理规模和它们应该具有的属性的差异。为了应对术语用法的多样性，我们主张使用更精确的术语，如“负担热点”、“传输热点”和“涌现热点”，以及明确指定感兴趣的时空尺度。需要提高术语的精确度，以确保明确和有效的疾病控制政策。
The importance of spatial clusters, or “hotspots,” in infectious disease epidemiology has been increasingly recognized, and targeting hotspots is often seen as an important component of disease-control strategies. However, the precise meaning of “hotspot” varies widely in current research and policy documents. Hotspots have been variously described as areas of elevated incidence or prevalence, higher transmission efficiency or risk, or higher probability of disease emergence. This ambiguity has led to confusion and may result in mistaken inferences regarding the best way to target interventions. We surveyed the literature on epidemiologic hotspots, examining the multitude of ways in which the term is used; and highlight the difference in the geographic scale of hotspots and the properties they are supposed to have. In response to the diversity in the term's usage, we advocate the use of more precise terms, such as “burden hotspot,” “transmission hotspot,” and “emergence hotspot,” as well as explicit specification of the spatiotemporal scale of interest. Increased precision in terminology is needed to ensure clear and effective policies for disease control.