title: Occurrence and spatial distribution of hepatitis C in a Western Brazilian Amazon state.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C causes a major impact on public health due to the high prevalence in the population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the epidemiological data of hepatitis C in the State of Rondônia, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from hepatitis C were analyzed during the period 2002 to 2012, assigned by the Agency for Sanitary Vigilance of the State of Rondônia. The variables studied were: year of diagnosis, gender, age, associated disease, exposure to risk factors and clinical presentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hundred fifty-nine cases were reported during the study period. Of this total, 542 (63.1%) cases were male. In relation to age group, the one with the highest number of cases was between 40-59 years (54%), followed by 20-39 years (33.5%). In relation to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) association, 1.8% of patients had HIV and 2.1% other type of sexually transmitted disease. About exposure to risk factors, 288 (28.1%) individuals were exposed to a surgical procedure. Was also analyzed the clinical form of the disease, 9.9% are in acute disease and 91.1% in the chronic phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the State of Rondônia, hepatitis C had a mean annual incidence of 5.1 cases/100,000 inhabitants, similar to the national rate.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gabriel de Deus
authors.initials: Gde D
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cledson Gonçalves
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade São Lucas, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila Maciel de
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D055815:Young Adult