Hepatitis C virus epidemiology and prevention in Polish and Swiss population - similar and contrasting experiences

The aim of the study was to review available data on HCV in Poland and Switzerland, in order to compare the two European countries with respect to epidemiological situation and efficiency of the response systems.

A search of registries, published and grey literature was performed to assemble data on prevalence, rate of detection of new cases, identified risk factors for transmission, mortality due to HCV, prevalence of HCC and the consequent liver transplantations, as well as data on treatment in Poland and Switzerland.

Overall, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was similar, not exceeding 1%. However, the major transmission routes of HCV infections were different: medical procedures in Poland and drug injections in Switzerland. By combining the available information it was also possible to demonstrate important differences in efficiency of the response systems. There was approximately 1 new diagnosis per 100 estimated undiagnosed cases in the population in Poland per year, compared to 6 in Switzerland, and the treatment rate per 100 estimated active infections was 2 and 4, respectively.

Scaling up of the diagnosis and treatment is necessary in both countries; however, the means to achieve this might differ, taking into account the higher concentration of the infections in risk groups in Switzerland than in Poland.