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[Hospitalizations due to hepatitis A, B and C in Austria 1996-1998]
V Weichbold1, A Bertel, A Pelzer
1Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institut für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitssystemforschung, Innsbruck.
Insights
This study analyzes Austrian viral hepatitis hospitalizations from 1996-1998. Hepatitis C rates increased, while Hepatitis A and B showed varying trends across age groups and regions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Context:
- Analysis of Austrian in-patient data from 1996-1998.
- Utilizes the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) for medical and demographic information.
- Focuses on viral hepatitis as the primary diagnosis.
Purpose:
- To present epidemiological data on viral hepatitis hospitalizations in Austria.
- To provide insights for health-economic considerations related to viral hepatitis.
- To analyze trends and variations in hospitalization rates for Hepatitis A, B, and C.
Summary:
- Standardized hospitalization rates (SHR) for Hepatitis A varied, peaking in school-children, with Vienna showing higher rates.
- Hepatitis B SHR remained stable, with hospitalization rates peaking in young adults and a notable number of young children affected.
- Hepatitis C SHR showed a successive increase, with the highest hospitalization risk observed in adults aged 35-74, and significant regional differences.
Impact:
- Provides crucial data for understanding the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Austria.
- Informs public health strategies and resource allocation for viral hepatitis prevention and treatment.
- Highlights regional disparities and specific demographic groups at higher risk, guiding targeted interventions.
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to analyse the data of all Austrian in-patients who had been hospitalized between 1996 and 1998 with the main diagnosis "viral hepatitis" (according to ICD 9), in order to present data for epidemiological as well as health-economical considerations. The data used stem from the "Minimum Basic Data Set" (MBDS) which contains medical as well as demographical recordings of every in-patient treated in an Austrian public hospital. Hepatitis A: Values of the standardized hospitalization rate (SHR) ranged from 2.6/100,000 (1998) to 4.7/100,000 (1997). On age classes, the highest values regularly were observed in school-children (7-13/100,000 per year). Significant differences between males and females were not revealed. Among the Austrian federal states, Vienna was found to jut out (6.8/100,000 per year), probably due to its high proportion of immigrants from high-endemic regions. Hepatitis B: Values of SHR were found to be stable with about 3/100,000 per year. On age classes, rates increased rapidly in adolescents, reached the peak in young adults (aged 20 to 29 years: 5/100,000 per year) and, then, decreased slowly. Males were slightly, but not significantly, more affected than females. Interestingly, a respectable number of young children (aged 0 to 4 years) were hospitalized in 1997 and 1998 (1998: 4.4/100,000). Comparing the Austrian federal states, Vorarlberg (6.4/10,000 per year) and Vienna (4.5/100,000 per year) yielded the highest values of SHR. Hepatitis C: In the years observed, values of SHR were ascending successively from 6/100,000 (1996) to 9.7/100,000 (1998). On age classes, the highest risk of hospitalization was found for adults aged between 35 and 74 years (10-20/100,000 per year). Among the Austrian federal states, values of SHR differed considerably; Salzburg (15.1/10,000 per year) and Kärnten (Carinthia) (12.1/100,000 per year) were found to yield the highest values.