title: Contribution of noncommunicable diseases to medical admissions of elderly adults in Africa: a prospective, cross-sectional study in Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the nature of geriatric medical admissions to teaching hospitals in three countries in Africa (Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania) and compare them with data from the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Soba University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; and North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  All people aged 60 and older urgently medically admitted from March 1 to August 31, 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected regarding age, sex, date of admission, length of stay, diagnoses, medication, date of discharge or death, and discharge destination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Africa, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 81.0% (n=708) of admissions (n=874), and tuberculosis, malaria, and the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome accounted for 4.6% (n=40). Cerebrovascular accident (n=224, 25.6%) was the most common reason for admission, followed by cardiac or circulatory dysfunction (n=150, 17.2%). Rates of hypertension were remarkably similar in the United Kingdom (45.8%) and Africa (40.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the elderly population, the predicted increased burden of NCDs on health services in Africa appears to have occurred. Greater awareness and some reallocation of resources toward NCDs may be required if the burden of such diseases is to be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Rufus O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Akinyemi
authors.forename: Isameldin M H
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Izzeldin
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dotchin
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Olaleye
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adeniji
authors.forename: Osheik A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Seidi
authors.forename: Josephine J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mwakisambwe
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mhina
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mutesi
authors.forename: Helen Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Msechu
authors.forename: Kien A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mteta
authors.forename: Mayada A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Shahd H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.forename: Nazik A A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abuelgasim
authors.forename: Sumia A A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Ashraf Y O
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Fidelis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adesina
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamzat
authors.forename: Taiwo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olunuga
authors.forename: Venance P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Maro
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Africa; elderly; geriatric; hospital admissions; low-income countries; noncommunicable disease