Respiratory diseases morbidity and mortality among adults attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the morbidity and mortality related to respiratory diseases among adults attending a tertiary-care hospital in Nigeria.


METHODS
We carried out a retrospective study of 183 adult patients (> 15 years of age), diagnosed with respiratory diseases between November of 2006 and October of 2008 at the Federal Medical Centre in Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria.


RESULTS
Of the 183 patients enrolled in the study, 78 (42.6%) were male and 105 (57.4%) were female, the male: female ratio being 1:1.4. Respiratory diseases were predominant in the 25-44 year age bracket (37.2%) and lower socioeconomic class (81.4%). Pulmonary TB was the leading cause of morbidity (in 42.1%), followed by asthma (in 17.5%) and pneumonia (in 15.3%). Lung cancer was uncommon (in only 0.6%). Pulmonary TB was the leading cause of hospitalization for respiratory disease (in 32%). Pulmonary TB, asthma, pneumonia and pleural pathologies were more common in women, whereas COPD was more common in men. The most common comorbidity was HIV infection (in 11.5%). The overall mean length of hospital stay was 14 days. Overall mortality was 8.7%; 50% of the deaths were attributed to pulmonary TB, 25% were attributed to pleural disease, 12.5% were attributed to pneumonia, and 6.25% were attributed to acute exacerbation of COPD. Mortality was higher in women and in the 25-44 year age bracket.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary TB, asthma and pneumonia were the leading causes of respiratory disease-related morbidity. Pulmonary TB was the leading cause of respiratory disease-related mortality among the adult Nigerians evaluated. Therefore, these conditions should be given higher priority in patient care. In addition, antiretroviral therapy should be readily accessible and affordable to HIV-infected individuals.
Desalu
Olufemi Olumuyiwa
OO
Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. femuy1967@yahoo.co.uk
Oluwafemi
Joshua Afolayan
JA
Ojo
Ololade
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult