Prevalence of chlamydia infection: registered and expected

Abstract

Aim. To estimate the number of probable undiagnosed cases of chlamydia infection in Lithuania and evaluate the causes of the occurrence. Methods. Statistical data for the analysis of the epidemiology of chlamydia infection in Lithuania was collected from the Health Statistics database of the Institute of Hygiene. The number of presumptively undiagnosed people with chlamydia infection was calculated using the notification rate in European Union countries calculated by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Results. The number of cases of chlamydia infection stays consistent from the year 2011 to 2021, from 284 to 489 cases per year. In 2021 the morbidity rate was 13,3 cases per 100 000 Lithuanians. The number of probable cases of chlamydia infection is 4413 (157 cases per 100 000). Therefore there are 4041 presumptively undiagnosed cases. Insufficient diagnostics of chlamydia infection is the main reason for the difference between registered and probable cases count. Conclusions. The diagnosis of chlamydia infection in Lithuania is not sufficient.