Epidemiologie a prostorová analýza hepatitid B a C v Česku

The aim of this article is to describe the epidemiological trends and spatial patterns of viral hepatitis B and C in the Czech Republic at the district level in 2000-2023. In the study period, a total of 9,471 cases of hepatitis B and 21,611 cases of hepatitis C were reported to the Epidat/ISIN system. Based on global and local spatial analyses, statistically significant positive spatial autocorrelation was demonstrated, and spatial clusters of cases were identified. Spatial clusters of high values are most pronounced for both diseases in the districts of the Ústí nad Labem Region, mainly in areas with socially excluded localities and the occurrence of risky behaviour among the population. The article presents spatial autocorrelation methods as an essential part of epidemiological research and discusses spatial patterns of hepatitis B and C incidence in the Czech Republic.