[Hepatitis C in Poland in 2004].

HCV surveillance in Poland is based on registration of newly detected both acute and chronic cases. In 2004 there were 2,157 registered cases (incidence 5.6 per 100,000), including 4.4% mixed HCV/HBV infections. Regionally the incidence ranged from 15.3 per 100,000 in świetokrzyskie voivodeship to 1.2 in ślaskie voivodeship. As observed previously the incidence in the urban areas (7.2 per 100,000) was two times higher then the incidence in rural areas (3.2) and the incidence in men (6.8) was 48.6% higher then in women (4.6). In men the highest incidence was noted in the age group 20-24 and 40-44 years (10.8 per 100,000) and in women in the age group 55-59 years (6.7). In total 78,7% of the cases were hospitalised. There were 116 deaths from hepatitis C. Deaths attributed to HCV infection accounted for 4.9% of all infectious disease deaths in 2004.