[Epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in China, 1997-2011]

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and changing trend as well as the related affecting factors of hepatitis C in China.

Data analysis was performed based on the case-reporting data of hepatitis C from 1997 to 2011, using SPSS 19.0.

The number of reported cases and incidence of hepatitis C had been increasing annually since 1997, especially in 2004. The hepatitis C reported incidence increased from 3.03 per 100 000 in 2004, to 12.97 per 100 000 in 2011. The 15 to 49 age group accounted for more than 50% of all the reported cases, seen in every year. The number and proportion of hepatitis C reported cases among those over 50 year-olds had an annually increase. From 2005 to 2011, the number of cases in both urban areas and rural areas increased annually, while the urban-rural ratio decreased from 1.47 in 2005 to 0.99 in 2011. There appeared an increasing trend of hepatitis C reported incidence in China, with most of the high reported incidence of hepatitis C fell in the northern parts of China. 74.8% of the HCV/HIV co-infected cases had histories of intravenous drug use, plasma donation, blood transfusion or surgical operation.

The reported number and incidence of HCV infection had been increasing annually. To develop a more realistic control measures for hepatitis C, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring program and carrying out specific epidemiological study among target groups and key areas.