The Pattern of Medical Mortalities in a Specialist Hospital in North-Central Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: Review of causes of morbidity and mortality in health care facilities is an important exercise which gives a picture of the prevailing disease pattern in the particular community and at the same time looks out for any change in the disease pattern over time. This exercise is a necessary component for planning of the health care needs of the community. Objective: To determine the mortality pattern on the medical wards of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital; a tertiary center located in Lokoja; North-Central Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of all patients admitted to the medical wards of the hospital over a period of 18 months (December 2008 - May 2010) was carried out. The information recorded from these sources included the age and gender; diagnosis/cause of death and the duration of admission. Results: A total of six hundred and eighty-four patients were admitted during the period being studied with a predominance of female patients (Female Male Ratio = 1.07). There were seventy-six deaths (11.1) during the period in question with HIV and related complications accounting for most recorded mortality (32.9) closely followed by non-communicable cardiovascular conditions (hypertension; heart failure and CVD) - 28.9. Conclusion: This study clearly shows that HIV infection and its complications remains the leading cause of death despite the advent of HAART. Clearly there is a need to revisit the strategies of HIV prevention and control. Also there is an urgent need to focus on the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes