Katarzyna Piwowarow1, Małgorzata Stępień1. 1. Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in 2013 in comparison with the previous years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in 2013 was evaluated on a basis of individual reports on acute and chronic hepatitis B cases registered by sanitary and epidemiological stations and aggregated data derived from annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland". RESULTS: In 2013, a total of 1,541 hepatitis B cases were reported, including 36 co-infections with HBV and HCV. Compared to the previous year, incidence slightly decreased and amounted to 4.0 per 100,000 population. Acute stage accounted for 5.3% of all HBV infections (incidence--0.21 per 100,000 population). Having compared to 2012, there was a slight increase in the incidence and share of acute stage in all HBV infections. The total number of acute hepatitis B cases, however, remained low. The highest incidence was reported in mazowieckie province for both acute (0.45 per 100,000) and chronic (7.40 per 100,000) hepatitis B. Similar to the previous year, males and urban population were the most affected group. Acute HBV infections were not identified in the age group 0-24 years which is subject to mandatory vaccination in neonatal period or at the age of 14 years. Acute and chronic stages of hepatitis B were most commonly diagnosed in persons aged 65-74 years (incidence--0.44 per 100,000) and 40-44 years (incidence--13.3 per 100,000), respectively. According to the CSO data, a total of 7 and 38 fatal cases were registered in 2013 due to acute and chronic HBV infection, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In 2013, a decreasing trend of hepatitis B incidence was discontinued. Thus, it is important to monitor whether this situation would not be reverted in the successive years. Hepatitis B incidence, which is slightly lower compared to the previous year, suggested that the incidence is relatively stable. In case of acute infections, medical procedures remained to be the most commonly listed exposure. Having considered a higher number of infections, sanitary conditions in health care units should be improved.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in 2013 in comparison with the previous years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in 2013 was evaluated on a basis of individual reports on acute and chronic hepatitis B cases registered by sanitary and epidemiological stations and aggregated data derived from annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland". RESULTS: In 2013, a total of 1,541 hepatitis B cases were reported, including 36 co-infections with HBV and HCV. Compared to the previous year, incidence slightly decreased and amounted to 4.0 per 100,000 population. Acute stage accounted for 5.3% of all HBV infections (incidence--0.21 per 100,000 population). Having compared to 2012, there was a slight increase in the incidence and share of acute stage in all HBV infections. The total number of acute hepatitis B cases, however, remained low. The highest incidence was reported in mazowieckie province for both acute (0.45 per 100,000) and chronic (7.40 per 100,000) hepatitis B. Similar to the previous year, males and urban population were the most affected group. Acute HBV infections were not identified in the age group 0-24 years which is subject to mandatory vaccination in neonatal period or at the age of 14 years. Acute and chronic stages of hepatitis B were most commonly diagnosed in persons aged 65-74 years (incidence--0.44 per 100,000) and 40-44 years (incidence--13.3 per 100,000), respectively. According to the CSO data, a total of 7 and 38 fatal cases were registered in 2013 due to acute and chronic HBV infection, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In 2013, a decreasing trend of hepatitis B incidence was discontinued. Thus, it is important to monitor whether this situation would not be reverted in the successive years. Hepatitis B incidence, which is slightly lower compared to the previous year, suggested that the incidence is relatively stable. In case of acute infections, medical procedures remained to be the most commonly listed exposure. Having considered a higher number of infections, sanitary conditions in health care units should be improved.