Neurological disorders in institutionalized patients in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To define the spectrum and types of neurological disorders in patients residing in rehabilitation institutions in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia [Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]]. Rehabilitation institutions in the Eastern Province, KSA. All the residents in the four rehabilitation institutions in the Eastern Province, KSA were evaluated by a neurologist and pediatrician. Six hundred and eight patients [352 males, 256 females] were seen 244 [40.1%] were aged 13 years old or less; 321 [52.8%] were aged between 14 and 65 years and 43 [7.1%] were more than 65 years. The main neurological disorders seen were cerebral palsy and epilepsy in 531 [87.3%] and 172 [28.3%] cases respectively. Disorientation was encountered in 432 patients [79.4%] and behavioural problems in 255 [49.9%] in the form of hyperactivity [146 cases, 29%] and withdraw [109, 20.9%]. Receptive and expressive dysphasia were observed in 307 [55.4%] and 300 [49.3%] patients respectively with some degree of overlap. Other disabilities included hearing loss in 348 [57.2%] and visual impairment in 327 [53.8%]. Motor weakness was present in 306 patients [50.3%] in the form of quadriplegia [210], paraplegia [71], hemiplegia [15] and monoplegia [10]. Neurological abnormalities are common among residents of the four rehabilitation institutions in the study area. Identification and accurate quantitation of these and other abnormalities may prove useful in planning the type and scope of rehabilitation and other support services in such institutions