OBJECTIVES: To describe health outcomes, the course of treatment and the demographic and clinical characteristics of HCV adult patients infected with genotype 1 receiving interferon-alfa+ribavirin therapy in Poland. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of anonymous data of patients treated in the HCV therapeutic programme of the National Health Fund was performed. Data was gathered from three medical centres and included demographic and clinical characteristics (sex, age, body weight, initial HCV RNA level, disease staging and grading) as well as treatment course (first line/retreatment, posology, treatment duration, outcomes and discontinuations). RESULTS: A total of 813 HCV genotype 1 adult patients’ records [586 treatment-naïve (N) and 227 treatment-experienced (E)] were included in the analysis. 55% were male (N: 53%, E: 60%), mean age at the beginning of therapy was 48 (SD:13) years. Mean body weight was 68,0 (SD:11,8) kg in females and 82,4 (SD:12,3) kg in males. Mean initial HCV RNA was 5,9 (SD:0,8) log10IU/mL and 46% of patients had HCV RNA<800 000 IU/mL. A total of 85% records included data on disease staging (Sheuer 0-2: 67%; stage 3: 19%; stage 4: 14%). 96% of patients received pegylated interferons (pegylated interferon-alfa2a: 54%), 97% with ribavirin. A total of 15% of patients discontinued therapy prematurely (N: 14%, E: 18%) after a mean of 6 months, and mean treatment duration was 44 weeks for all patients. Overall SVR (sustained viral response) was achieved in 42% of patients (N: 45%, E: 33%). Among treatment-naïve patients not fully responding to therapy, 41% had relapse, 21% were partial responders and 38% were null-responders. CONCLUSIONS: The real-life results of HCV genotype 1 treatment, with SVR rates below 50% in treatment naïve patients, are unsatisfactory, especially when in Poland the prevalence of this difficult-to-treat genotype is one of the most highest in Europe. Forthcoming triple therapy with HCV protease inhibitors are promising and anticipated options for these patients.