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ABSTRACT
Background. An accurate description of the pattern of diseases is important in planning and assessing public health policies. Hence, we aimed to determine the causes of admissions and outcome of patients admitted in the medical ward of a tertiary referral hospital in Cameroon. Methods. This was a retrospective study conducted in the medical ward of the Douala General Hospital. All patients admitted in the ward between January 2015 and December 2017 were included. Medical files were reviewed and data on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, length of stay, outcome and diagnosis at admission were collected. Diagnoses were grouped in communicable diseases or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and then classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). We defined communicable diseases as diseases presenting with fever and/or abnormal white blood cells count and due to an invasion by a pathogenic microorganism. NCDs were defined as diseases of long duration and not directly associated with the pathogenic effects of a microorganism. A comparison was done according to age. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 4591 patients were admitted among which 94.0% (4316/4591) were included for analyses. The mean age of participants was 52.9 ± 17.2 years, 51.3% (2212/4316) were young and 55.3% (2288/4316) were male. NCDs constituted two thirds of admissions. According to the ICD-10, infectious diseases were the leading causes of admissions accounting for 20.5% (886/4316) of all admissions, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases with 19.9% (862/4316) and 19.0% (820/4316) of admissions respectively. Young patients were more likely to be admitted for infectious diseases (p < 0.001) while elderly patients were more frequently admitted for cardiovascular diseases (p < 0.001). Overall, the median length of stay was 7.0 (4.0-11.0) days and the in-hospital mortality was 17.4%. Conclusion. Infectious, cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the leading causes of medical admissions. The double burden of diseases in developing countries may explain this pattern of admissions.
RÉSUMÉ
Introduction. La description précise du profil des maladies est essentielle pour la planification et l'évaluation des politiques de santé publique. Cette étude vise à déterminer les causes d'admissions et le devenir des patients dans un service de médecine interne. Méthodes. Étude rétrospective au service de médecine interne de l'Hôpital Général de Douala. Inclusion de tous les patients admis entre janvier 2015 et décembre 2017. Collecte des données sociodémographiques, comorbidités, durée d'hospitalisation, diagnostic à l'admission. Classification des diagnostics en maladies transmissibles et maladies non transmissibles (MNT) selon la CIM-10. Les maladies transmissibles sont définies par fièvre et/ou nombre anormal de globules blancs dû à une infection. Les MNT sont des maladies chroniques non causées par un micro-organisme. Comparaison selon l'âge (p < 0,05). Résultats. 4591 patients admis, 94,0% (4316/4591) inclus. Âge moyen : 52,9 ± 17,2 ans, 51,3% jeunes, 55,3% hommes. Les MNT représentaient les deux tiers des admissions. Principales causes d'admissions selon la CIM-10 : maladies infectieuses (20,5%), cancer (19,9%), maladies cardiovasculaires (19,0%). Jeunes patients admis pour maladies infectieuses (p < 0,001), patients âgés pour maladies cardiovasculaires (p < 0,001). Durée médiane de séjour : 7,0 jours, mortalité hospitalière : 17,4%. Conclusion. Les maladies infectieuses, le cancer et les maladies cardiovasculaires étaient les principales causes d'admissions médicales. Ce profil d'admissions peut s'expliquer par le double fardeau des maladies dans les pays en développement.

Keywords

Medical Admissions Cause Outcome Douala Cameroon Admissions Médicales Causes Devenir Douala Cameroun

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Radchidou, H., Halle, M. P., Mapoure, Y. N., Kamdem, F., Dzudie, A., Fernando Kemta Lekpa, Mbatchou Ngahane, B. H., & Luma, H. N. (2023). Age-Related Causes of Admissions and Outcome of Patients in a Medical Ward in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Cameroon. HEALTH SCIENCES AND DISEASE, 24(8). https://doi.org/10.5281/hsd.v24i8.4640
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