Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases among Geriatric Nigerians in a Rural Hospital in Resource-Constrained Setting of Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Globally, there is an emerging increase in the population of elder citizens. Despite the process of natural aging, elderly population in addition suffers acute and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are often neglected. Aim: This study was aimed at describing the burden (prevalence and pattern) of non-communicable diseases among geriatric Nigerians in a rural hospital in resource-constrained setting of Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive hospital-based study of 286 geriatric patients with NCDs out of a total of 872 geriatric patients’ population in a rural Hospital in Imo state, South-Eastern Nigeria. The data collected included age, sex and diagnoses. Diagnoses of NCDs were based on clinical method of subjective complaints, objective findings and appropriate laboratory and radio-diagnostic confirmations. Results: Eight hundred and seventy two patients out of a total patients population of 9885 were 65 years and above. The geriatric population constituted 8.8% of total patients’ population. Five hundred and thirty (60.8%) of geriatric health problems were due to communicable diseases; two hundred and eighty-six (32.8%) were due to NCDs and fifty-six (6.4%) resulted from accidents, trauma and injuries. Of the 286 who had non-communicable diseases 176 (61.5%) were males while 110(38.5%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1.6: 1. The top five non-communicable diseases were hypertension 192 (67.1%), musculoskeletal disorders 126 (44.1%), dyspepsia 99 (34.6%), non-communicable visual impairment 96 (33.6%), and diabetes mellitus 25(8.7%) Conclusion: This study has shown that geriatric patients in the study area suffer NCDs with three most common being hypertension, musculoskeletal disorders and dyspepsia. There is therefore the need for preventive action against the scourge of geriatric non-communicable diseases.