Medical admissions to Kamuzu Central Hospital; Lilongwe; Malawi in 1986: comparison with admissions to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital; Blantyre in 1973

ABSTRACT

A retrospective survey was carried out on adult medical admissions to Kamuzu Central Hospital; Lilongwe; Malawi during the period January to December 1986; and results compared with those obtained in Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital; Blantyre in 1973. There were 4700 admissions which was more than twice the number seen in Blantyre. However; the age distribution; the pattern of disease and the overall hospital mortality were similar. Infections (malaria; pneumonia; tuberculosis; gastroenteritis/dysentery and meningitis) were the most common cause of admission; and the major causes of death were still tuberculosis; pneumonia and meningitis. Smoking related diseases were uncommon; and there was no documented case of ischaemic heart disease. The reasons for the importance of periodic surveys; such as the present study; are discussed