title: Hospitalization rate and mean days of hospitalization of notified viral hepatitis cases in Italy. The Seieva Collaborating Group.
abstract: The hospitalization rate and the mean days of hospitalization of notified viral hepatitis cases in Italy were estimated by a specific surveillance system for acute viral hepatitis over the period 1987-1992. The hospitalization rate was very high, ranging from 88.8% for hepatitis A to 90.9% for non-A, non-B hepatitis. No changes were observed over time. For each type of hepatitis the highest figure was observed in the 15-24 year age group. The mean days of hospitalization of hepatitis B (24.2) and non-A, non-B (20.5) hepatitis was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of hepatitis A (16.5). The highest mean days of hospitalization of hepatitis A and B occurred in the 0-14 year age group, while for non-A, non-B hepatitis it was observed in subjects over 24 years of age. These findings indicate a nearly similar rate of hospitalization of all types of hepatitis. Hepatitis B and non-A, non-B hepatitis show a more prolonged course than hepatitis A.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Medicina, Ospedale Montefiascone, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D012189:Retrospective Studies