Profile of neurological disorders in an adult neurology clinic in Kumasi, Ghana.
BACKGROUND
Although the burden of neurological disorders is highest among populations in developing countries there is a dearth of data on the clinical spectrum of these disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To profile the frequency of neurologic disorders and basic demographic data in an adult neurology out-patient service commissioned in 2011 in Kumasi, Ghana.


METHODS
The study was conducted at the neurology clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Over a three year period, all medical records of patients enrolled at the out-patient neurology clinic was reviewed by a neurologist and neurological diagnoses classified according to ICD-10.


RESULTS
1812 adults enrolled for care in the neurology out-patient service between 2011 and 2013. This comprised of 882 males and 930 females (male: female ratio of 1.0: 1.1) with an overall median age of 54 (IQR, 39-69) years. The commonest primary neurological disorders seen were strokes, epilepsy and seizure disorders, and movement disorders at frequencies of 57.1%, 19.8%, and 8.2% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy and movement disorders were among the commonest neurological disorders and the major contributors to neurologic morbidity among Ghanaians in an urban neurology clinic.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana ; Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
Fred Stephen
FS
Sarfo
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana ; Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
John
J
Akassi
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
Elizabeth
E
Badu
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
Aham
A
Okorozo
Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
Bruce
B
Ovbiagele
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Albert
A
Akpalu
Demography; Ghana; Neurologic disorders; Spectrum