Disability Burden Due to Neurological Disorders: A matter of Future Concern

Abstract

Aim: To study disability burden due to common prevalent neurological disorders. Material and Methods: Study from a tertiary care neuropsychiatry hospital from North India. Cases had been collected with all detailed demographic and relevant findings from the year 2009 to 2018; almost 10 years of data were collected and recorded. The detailed analyses of the cases were done. All the cases which lead to permanent disability leading to Locomotors, cognitive and other deficits from the Neurological disorder were included and recorded. Cases leading to temporary disability were excluded from the study. Results: Total numbers of patients around ten tears were 1203 in number, Out of which 1001 were males and 202 were females. Stroke accounted for the largest proportion of disability among all neurological disorders analysed. Cerebral palsy, post enchephalitis sequalae and mental Retardation with Epilepsy were the second, third, and fourth largest contributors of permanent physical or cognitive disability. The proportional contributions of the other neurological disorders analysed were less substantial and varied from 0.4% for Multiple sclerosis to round 5% for tuberculosis of Brain. Among the largest number Stroke Cerebrovascular accident is the largest group comprises of round 44 % of the permanent disability followed by Cerebral palsy, (22.8%) Post encephalitis, sequalae (11.8%) and mental Retardation with Epilepsy (9.2%). Other groups comprises of Tuberculosis of brain (5.2%), Motor Neuron diseases (3.5%) and small number of cases of myelopathy, dementia and Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. Stroke the number of male patients are more as compared to females. The age pattern varied between the various neurological disorders for disability .The age group range for CVA varies grom 30 to 80, mostly in elderly, whereas cerebral palsy, post encephalitis sequale, mental retardation and Epilepsy prevailed in younger age group. Conclusion: The burden due to Neurological disorders is increasing in India and leading to further disability. In developing countries were most of the population belongs to middle or low socio-economic status against increase the burden as the sole family member get disabled and the whole family is dependent on their livelihood.