[AIDS and HIV infection in Poland in 2003].

The cumulative number of AIDS cases diagnosed in Poland from 1986 through 2003 reached 1421, and 676 AIDS deaths were registered during this time. Compared to previous years there was a slight increase in number of diagnosed AIDS cases (139 in 2003, incidence 0.36 per 100,000, comparing to 116 in 2002). Moreover the upward trend in AIDS mortality, which began in 2002, continued in 2003, with 61 reported deaths (a 27% increase as compared to 2002 and 45% increase as compared to 2001). Additionally, taking into account the official life statistics data, AIDS deaths might be underreported. In 2003, 610 newly detected HIV infections were reported (incidence 1.5 per 100,000), which is within the range observed in the past years. Injecting drug users constituted the most numerous risk group both among the AIDS cases (59.7%) and the HIV infection cases (35.6%). The proportion of reports of HIV infections with missing information on the risk group, however, remained very high (55% of all reports). In order to monitor the epidemiological situation better quality of data will need to be assured.