[Hepatitis C in Poland in 2005].

Surveillance system in Poland covers both acute and newly detected chronic hepatitis C, from 2005 according to the European case definition. Cases of asymptomatic infection are also reportable, but were not included in the analysis. In 2005 there were 2,997 cases registered (incidence 7.9 per 100,000), including 3.0% of co-infections with HBV. Comparing to 2004, this constituted a nearly 40% increase, which occurred in all age groups older then 14, both in men and women in urban and rural areas suggesting rather a surveillance artifact associated with new case definition, then a true epidemiological finding. Regionally the incidence varied from 2.3 per 100,000 in podlaskie voivodeship to 15.7 in świetokrzyskie. Similarly to the preceding years cities were more affected then rural areas (incidence respectively 10.0 and 4.4 per 100,000) and the incidence was higher in men (9.3) then in women (6.5). With respect to age distribution the peak incidence occurred in the age group 40-55 in men (13.5 per 100,000) and in the age group 50-65 in women (10.8). In total 68.3% of cases were hospitalized, but this percentage varied regionally from 34% to over 90%. There were 114 deaths attributed to hepatitis C in 2005 in Poland including 6 deaths of acute and 108 of chronic hepatitis.