[Hepatitis C in Poland in 2002]

The hepatitis C surveillance in Poland covers both acute and chronic presentation of hepatitis C. Chronic cases are registered only once, at the time of the first notification. In total, 1,987 cases were reported in Poland in 2002, out of which 84 (4.2%) persons were co-infected with HBV. The overall incidence, 5.2 per 100,000, was within the range observed during the preceding three years. As previously the incidence in the cities (6.8) was significantly higher than in rural areas (2.6), and males were more affected then females (incidence 6.1 and 4.3 per 100,000 respectively). Comparing the incidence across the regions, the rate ratio between the voivodeships with the highest and the lowest incidence (respectively 14.0 in świetokrzyskie and 1.5 in podkarpackie) was 9.5. The age distribution of cases was bimodal peaking in the age groups 50-54 years (incidence 7.9) and 20-24 years (incidence 7.0). Approximately 86.5% of cases were hospitalized. According to the preliminary national life statistics data in 2002 in Poland 91 persons died from acute or chronic hepatitis C.