Hepatitis B in Poland in 2016.

Objective: Evaluation of the epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in 2016 compared to the situation in previous years.

Material And Methods: The epidemiological situation was assessed based on the results of the analysis of individual data on hepatitis B cases and HBV infections registered by Local Sanitary- Epidemiological Stations in the central database using Epidemiological Interview Registration System (SRWE). Aggregate data published in the annual bulletins “Infectious Diseases and Poisonings in Poland” and “Vaccinations in Poland” were also used.

Results: In 2016, a total of 3806 hepatitis B cases were registered, including 21 HBV/HCV co-infections. The number of acute hepatitis B cases was 50 (incidence 0.13 per 100,000 population). In comparison with 2015 there was a slight decrease in both the incidence and contribution of acute cases in the total number of hepatitis B. In people aged 0-20 years, subjected to mandatory vaccinations as neonates, no acute cases have been reported. Most cases of acute hepatitis B occurred probably due to medical procedures (73% of cases with a known transmission route). The incidence of chronic and unknown (in terms of stage) hepatitis B was 9.77 per 100,000 population and it was higher by 8% than in the previous year. The highest incidence was recorded in pomorskie voivodeship (19.42 per 100,000), and the lowest in lubelskie voivodeship (2.81 per 100,000). Chronic and unknown stage (UNK) hepatitis B were more often detected in men (1.3-fold more frequent than in women) and in urban residents (1.5-fold more frequent than in rural). The dominant route of transmission of chronic and UNK infections still remains procedures performed in medical settings (77% of cases with a known transmission route). According to CSO data 4 people died due to acute hepatitis B and 35 people due to chronic hepatitis B in 2016.

Conclusions: In comparison with 2015 the epidemiological situation of hepatitis B did not change significantly - there was a slight increase the incidence of chronic and UNK hepatitis B, may be due to the number of tests performed per year and due to completeness of reporting for surveillance. A high percentage of acute cases related probably to medical procedures points to the need to strengthen compliance with safety rules while performing medical procedures at all levels of care and recommendation of vaccination against hepatitis B for all persons previously unvaccinated.