[Hepatitis B in Poland in 2005]

In total 1727 new cases were reported, 91 (5.3%) of which concerned people co-infected with HBV and HCV. The registered incidence, 4.5 per 100,000 population, was 10% higher then in 2004. It is assumed that the increase is connected to the changes in the surveillance system (introduction of European case definitions). Chronic hepatitis accounted for 62% of all cases (incidence 2.8 per 100,000) and acute hepatitis for 38% (incidence 1.7). As in previous years, the incidence in the urban areas (5.1) exceeded the incidence in the rural areas (3.6) and was higher in men (6.1) then in women (3.1). Comparing the incidence across the regions, the rate ratio between the voivodeship with the highest and the lowest incidence (respectively 7.9 in swietokrzyskie and 2.1 in podkarpackie) was 3.8. Overall the most affected age groups were young adults (incidence 6.7 among 20-24 year olds, 5.5 in 30-34 year olds and 5.3 in 25-29 year olds) and the elderly (incidence 6.2 in 65-74 year olds and 5.4 in persons over 74 years of age). Approximately 85% of cases were hospitalised. 85 deaths from hepatitis B were registered in 2005, including 62 from chronic and 23 from acute hepatitis B.