Morbidity and mortality patterns of medical admissions in a Nigerian secondary health care hospital

Abstract

Summmary Background: Periodic evaluation of morbidity and mortality data in developing countries is required to monitor trends in disease patterns. This study is to determine the prevalence and types of diseases currently seen in a secondary health care facility and compare with previous reports. Methods: A retrospective study of the medical admissions at the Adeoyo State hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, over a 5-year period (1996 - 2001). Results: A total of 2609 patients aged 45.1 ± 19.5 years (range 8-98 years) were admitted. There was a male preponderance (53%). Causes of admission included cardiovascular diseases (36.8%) infections (24.9%) which include tuberculosis (1.3%) and HIV/ AIDS (2%). Cardiovascular diseases increased by 150% compared with previous report from similar setting. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 60.7% of all the medical admissions, affected older patients; progressively increased overtime and were associated with more proportional mortality rate while communicable diseases were associated with higher case specific fatality rate. The overall mortality rate was 18.9%. Stroke was the leading cause of death, (20%). Other causes were tetanus 61 (12%), meningitis 55 (11%) and congestive cardiac failure 49 (10%). The age specific mortality rate was highest at 65 years of age and above age group. Conclusion: Cardiovascular diseases and infections are prevalent. There is an increase in non-communicable diseases suggesting changing demographic, social attributes and lifestyle. There is a need for periodic monitoring of trends and feed back to the general public and policy makers.