ABSTRACT
Stroke in adults under the age of 45 results in a greater loss of potential years of life than for other adults. This premature loss of life is associated with a high social and economic burden. Few data are available regarding stroke among young Nigerian adults in the Niger Delta Basin. This study sought to determine the incidence, risk factors, stroke subtypes and case fatality of stroke among young Nigerian adults. The medical records of all 18- to 45-year-old patients admitted with stroke in the medical wards of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) from January 2003 to December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 611 patients admitted with stroke, 54 (8.8%) were aged 18-45 years. There were 26 males and 28 females. Hypertension was responsible for 42 (77.8%) stroke cases. Other important risk factors were excessive alcohol intake (27.8%), heart disease (13%), diabetes mellitus (11.1%), cigarette smoking (11.1%) and HIV infection (7.4%). The total case fatality was 29.6% with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) having higher case fatality of 69.2% than cerebral infarction (CI) with a case fatality of 16.7%. Among the young Nigerian adults who presented with stroke, 53.7% survived. The authors conclude from the above information that the incidence of stroke in young patients at UPTH is low. Hypertension is the most important risk factor of stroke; however, other less common but important risk factors in the young adults are cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus and HIV. Efforts should be made to reduce the impact of stroke in this age group by focusing on these risk factors, which are either preventable or modifiable.
Subject(s)
Stroke/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Nigeria/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Stroke/etiology , Stroke/mortalityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The quality of care in the emergency room is an indirect indicator of the standard of healthcare delivery in a given health institution. Mortality in the emergency room may result from various factors including incompetence of the attending junior physicians, delays in presentation and inadequate facilities. The aim of the study is to highlight the causes of mortality, age and sex distribution of the deaths and the duration of admission before death among medical cases in the accident and emergency unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. METHODS: A one year (January to December, 2005) clinical audit of all adult medical admissions in the accident and emergency department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). RESULTS: Of the 5304 admitted over the study period, 349 (6.8%) patients died. Two hundred and thirty three (66.8%) of these deaths were due to medical cases only. These medical deaths were made up of 126 males and 107 females giving a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The presumed causes of deaths were stroke in 56(24.5%), HIV/AIDS in 53 (22.7%), sepsis in 20 (8.6%), while 14 (6.0%) died from meningitis. Ten patients (4.3%) died from diabetic ketoacidosis, and hepatic encephalopathy and tetanus were responsible for 10 (4.3%) and 7 (3.0%) deaths respectively. CONCLUSION: In the period studied, medical mortality was high in the accident and emergency room of UPTH. The major causes of deaths were cerebrovascular accidents and HIV/AIDS.
Subject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Hospital Mortality , Hospitals, Teaching/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , HIV Infections/mortality , Humans , Length of Stay , Male , Middle Aged , Nigeria/epidemiology , Sex Distribution , Stroke/mortalityABSTRACT
Background:The quality of care in the emergency room is an indirect indicator of the standard of healthcare delivery in a given health institution. Mortality in the emergency room may result from various factors including incompetence of the attending junior physicians; delays in presentation and inadequate facilities. The aim of the study is to highlight the causes of mortality; age and sex distribution of the deaths and the duration of admission before death among medical cases in the accident and emergency unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Methods: A one year (January to December; 2005) clinical audit of all adult medical admissions in the accident and emergency department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Results: Of the 5304 admitted over the study period; 349 (6.8) patients died. Two hundred and thirty three (66.8) of these deaths were due to medical cases only.These medical deaths were made up of 126 males and 107 females giving a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The presumed causes of deaths were stroke in 56(24.5); HIV/AIDS in 53 (22.7); sepsis in 20 (8.6); while 14 (6.0) died from meningitis. Ten patients (4.3) died from diabetic ketoacidosis; and hepatic encephalopathy and tetanus were responsible for 10(4.3) and 7 (3.0) deaths respectively. Conclusion: In the period studied; medical mortality was high in the accident and emergency room of UPTH. The major causes of deaths were cerebrovascular accidents and HIV/AIDS
Subject(s)
Accidents , Autopsy , Death , Emergencies , Hospitals , TeachingABSTRACT
Background:The quality of care in the emergency room is an indirect indicator of the standard of healthcare delivery in a given health institution. Mortality in the emergency room may result from various factors including incompetence of the attending junior physicians; delays in presentation and inadequate facilities. The aim of the study is to highlight the causes of mortality; age and sex distribution of the deaths and the duration of admission before death among medical cases in the accident and emergency unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Methods: A one year (January to December; 2005) clinical audit of all adult medical admissions in the accident and emergency department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Results: Of the 5304 admitted over the study period; 349 (6.8) patients died. Two hundred and thirty three (66.8) of these deaths were due to medical cases only.These medical deaths were made up of 126 males and 107 females giving a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The presumed causes of deaths were stroke in 56(24.5); HIV/AIDS in 53 (22.7); sepsis in 20 (8.6); while 14 (6.0) died from meningitis. Ten patients (4.3) died from diabetic ketoacidosis; and hepatic encephalopathy and tetanus were responsible for 10(4.3) and 7 (3.0) deaths respectively. Conclusion: In the period studied; medical mortality was high in the accident and emergency room of UPTH. The major causes of deaths were cerebrovascular accidents and HIV/AIDS
