title: [Epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in China, 1997-2011].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and changing trend as well as the related affecting factors of hepatitis C in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data analysis was performed based on the case-reporting data of hepatitis C from 1997 to 2011, using SPSS 19.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of reported cases and incidence of hepatitis C had been increasing annually since 1997, especially in 2004. The hepatitis C reported incidence increased from 3.03 per 100 000 in 2004, to 12.97 per 100 000 in 2011. The 15 to 49 age group accounted for more than 50% of all the reported cases, seen in every year. The number and proportion of hepatitis C reported cases among those over 50 year-olds had an annually increase. From 2005 to 2011, the number of cases in both urban areas and rural areas increased annually, while the urban-rural ratio decreased from 1.47 in 2005 to 0.99 in 2011. There appeared an increasing trend of hepatitis C reported incidence in China, with most of the high reported incidence of hepatitis C fell in the northern parts of China. 74.8% of the HCV/HIV co-infected cases had histories of intravenous drug use, plasma donation, blood transfusion or surgical operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reported number and incidence of HCV infection had been increasing annually. To develop a more realistic control measures for hepatitis C, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring program and carrying out specific epidemiological study among target groups and key areas.
authors.affiliation: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Qian-qian
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Li-yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui-xue
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors