Abstract
IntroductionThe "potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH)'' are hospital admissions that could have been avoided through effective primary care given at the appropriate time. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causes of PPH, are the leading cause of death worldwide with significant socioeconomic consequences especially in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the burden of potentially preventable hospitalizations in the St. Louis regional hospital.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The surveyed population consisted of all patients older than one year, admitted to St. Louis hospital for more than four (04) hours time between January 20 and April 30, 2015. Patients hospitalized in surgery (general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology), maternity and neonatology, as well as those who refused or were unable to participate in the study were excluded.ResultsThe study included one hundred forty four (144) individuals with an average age of 54.68±15 years (17-88 years) and sex ratio woman/man of 1.21. The PPH represented 54% of all hospitalizations. The main causes of hospitalizations were diabetes with 22.1%, chronic kidney disease 12%, hypertension 10.9%, Stroke 6.4% and finally broncho-pulmonary diseases 2.6%. The average length of stay was 6.68±5.51 days. The average distance between the residence and the hospital was 26.51±60KM with a median of 3.5KM. The average cost of care was Euros 104.583 ±83.51. For 61.10%, it was a first hospitalization and for 30.60%, a second one. The Knowledge about signs of disease severity had changed significantly at the end of hospitalization, from 29% at the beginning to 98% at the end of stay in hospital. As for the means of prevention, 30.55% reported knowing them before their hospitalization and 68% after hospitalization.ConclusionPotentially preventable hospitalizations are a heavy burden for the population of St. Louis. Their negative social and economic impacts may hinder health policies initiated to relieve vulnerable groups. Their prevention should be a national priority.
Highlights
The "potentially preventable hospitalizations" (PPH) are hospital admissions that could have been avoided through efficient primary care dispensed at the appropriate time [1,2,3,4,5]
High blood pressure was defined by systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg and or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mm Hg, or being on antihypertensive therapy [21]
267 eligible patients were admitted at the concerned departments of Saint-Louis regional hospital
Summary
The "potentially preventable hospitalizations (PPH)'' are hospital admissions that could have been avoided through effective primary care given at the appropriate time. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causes of PPH, are the leading cause of death worldwide with significant socioeconomic consequences especially in developing countries. The "potentially preventable hospitalizations" (PPH) are hospital admissions that could have been avoided through efficient primary care dispensed at the appropriate time [1,2,3,4,5]. The noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), sources of potentially preventable hospitalizations are the leading cause of death worldwide [13]. NCDs have a disproportionate impact on low and middleincome countries, which identify nearly 80% of deaths from these diseases, that is 29 million They are the leading causes of death in all regions except Africa [14]. These diseases have reached epidemic level proportions while they could be substantially reduced, and that millions of lives could be saved and huge suffering avoided, with a decrease in risk factors, early detection and timely treatment [6, 9, 15]
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