Trends of infectious diseases under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) from a tertiary care hospital in Chandigarh, India

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Problem Considered</h3> Infectious diseases continue to number among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in a number of developing countries, including India. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was established by the Government of India in 2004 to monitor trends related to the testing and diagnosis of common infections, with one objective being to periodically update programs against infectious diseases based on the data obtained. <h3>Methods</h3> This cross-sectional study analyses data for 11 diseases, reported as part of the IDSP to Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh from 2020 to 2023; rare or clinically-diagnosed conditions were excluded from this analysis. Data analyzed includes percentage of positive cases and linear trends of each disease. <h3>Result</h3> Significant positive trends were observed for Chikungunya (r=0.203), Viral Hepatitis A (r=0.307), and Typhoid (r=0.436); on the other hand, the incidence of Leptospirosis (r=-0.307), Shigella (r=-0.183), and Scrub Typhus (r=-0.389) were seen to decline during the same period. Dengue and Chikungunya were also associated with seasonal variations, with both diseases peaking in winter. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The findings of this study emphasize the need for improved control of those infectious diseases which show increasing secular trends; in particular, the rise of Typhoid and Hepatitis A may indicate the need for improved control of fecal-oral transmission. The fall in Scrub Typhus, which runs counter to the prevailing national trend, may indicate the increased effectiveness of decentralized disease control programs. Insight gained from this study and other community-based studies is essential to guide effective policy-making and program implementation.