Co-morbid medical conditions and medical complications of prostate cancer in Southern Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer often co-exists with other diseases. It accounts for 11% of all cancers in Nigerian men, and it is the commonest cause of mortality due to cancer in elderly males in Nigeria.


OBJECTIVE
To present co-morbid medical conditions and medical complications of prostate cancer in patients with the disease in Southern Nigeria.


METHODS
The study was carried out prospectively (2002 to 2003) at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi- both in Southern Nigeria. Using common proforma, patients who presented to the urology units of the two teaching hospitals were evaluated clinically and with relevant investigations for prostate cancer and other diseases. Those with histologically confirmed prostate cancer were included in this study. Data was also collected retrospectively by using the same proforma to obtain information from case files of 37 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer at UPTH. Data from the two institutions were collated and analysed.


RESULTS
Of 189 cases analysed, 73.4% had significant medical co-morbid diseases/complications. These included anaemia (69.8%), urinary tract infection (56.1%), chronic renal failure (33.9%), hypertension (41.8%), diabetes mellitus (9.5%), paraplegia (9.5%), congestive cardiac failure (9.0%) and cerebrovascular disease (5.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
These patients had high disease burden. Improved health education and well coordinated interdisciplinary team work are suggested in managing this malignancy.
University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgery, 3 Wogu Close, Port Harcourt, Rivers State 234, Nigeria. drmondayksapira@yahoo.com
Monday Komene
MK
Sapira
Arthur Chukwubike
AC
Onwuchekwa
Chinwe Regina
CR
Onwuchekwa
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D053448:Prostatism / Q000209:etiology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications