Spatial and temporal variability of bronchiectasis cases in Silesian voivodeship in 2006–2010

Objectives Reports on an increasing number of hospitalizations in other European countries and the lack of epidemiological data on the prevalence of bronchiectasis in Poland constituted motivation for the authors to investigate temporal changes of the registered incidence and hospitalization due to bronchiectasis in Silesian voivodeship, and to evaluate spatial variability of the disease in the study region. Material and Methods The study is a descriptive epidemiological project. Temporal and spatial variability of coefficients describing numbers of newly diagnosed cases and first time hospitalizations due to bronchiectasis (code J47 according to International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10)) were evaluated based on the registered data available from the National Health Found (2006–2010) and the data from MZ/Szp-11 reports (2000–2011). The data concerned adults aged ≥ 19 years, inhabitants of Silesian voivodeship. Maps of incidence or hospitalization rates due to bronchiectasis were constructed by the use of a geographical information system ArcGIS. Results The obtained results show a stable trend of reported new diseases, whereas the number of first time hospitalizations is increasing. Values of the standardized incidence were 19.9–25.1/100 000 inhabitants, and values of the standardized first-time hospitalization were 1.2–2.9/100 000 inhabitants. The reported rates of bronchiectasis indicate significant spatial differences in epidemiological situation in the study region. Conclusions The findings showed territorial variability of the incidence and hospitalization of bronchiectasis recorded in Silesian voivodeship. The observed variability might result from regional differences in the availability of specialized medical services.