Pattern of non-communicable diseases seen in a tertiary hospital in Keffi, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The burden of noncommunicable diseases(NCDs) is increasing in developing countries largely due to epidemiological transition. In this study, data of individuals who were seen in specialist medical clinics and wards in a hospital located in a fast-growing urban area were analyzed to identify the pattern of NCDs among the attendees. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of available registers and electronic medical records of adult patients with diagnoses of medical disorders seen between January 2006 and January 2016 at the specialist medical outpatient clinics and medical, emergency, and intensive care wards of Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, was carried out between January 2015 and January 2016. Medical records of 682 individuals were reviewed, and their data were extracted and analyzed. Results: Females(59.1%) and people in the middle-age group (44.6%) constituted majority of adult participants who were seen in the facility for medical diseases. The prevalence of NCDs was 64.4%, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) being the most common (37.7%). Hypertension was the most prevalent CVD (70%). Conclusion: NCDs were the predominant diseases seen at the specialist clinics and medical wards in the study. CVDs were the most prevalent NCDs followed by endocrine diseases.