P208 A retrospective survey of arthritis among inpatients at a consultant hospital in Northern Tanzania from 2017 to 2019

Abstract

Abstract Background/Aims Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders affect many people worldwide, but there is minimal access to medical care in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Few hospital-based studies on MSK disorders have been conducted and there are limited prevalence data on MSK diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Arthritis is the most common MSK condition, both reducing physical activity and increasing the risk of disability and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Given the high prevalence of MSK disorders and the associated significant clinical and economic burden in developed countries, an estimate of the frequency of these conditions in SSA is overdue. We aimed to determine the recorded prevalence of arthritis and related clinical features among patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Northern Tanzania from 2017-19. Methods Ethical approval was obtained to review the medical records retrospectively for all patients aged over 13 admitted to medical wards at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, a zonal tertiary care hospital, over this 3-year period. We collected demographic characteristics including age, gender, diagnoses and outcome. Diagnoses specifying arthritis were specifically sought. The prevalence of arthritis among inpatients over this period estimated. Analysis was conducted using STATA version 15 with categorical variables summarized using frequency and percentage. Results A total of 8023 patient files were examined with a slight majority of males 4181 (52.1%). An arthritis was recorded in 129 (1.6%) with 71 (55%) aged ≥60 years and 74 (57.4%) being female. The commonest presenting symptoms were joint pain in 69 (53.5%), swelling in 38 (29.5%) and stiffness in 18 (14%). A precise diagnosis for the arthritis was rarely recorded, although rheumatoid arthritis and gout were specified in a minority. Overall mortality was 12.4% among patients with arthritis. In addition, a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was recorded in a further 16 (0.2%) patients. Conclusion The recorded prevalence of arthritis among hospital inpatients in this LMIC study was low but the associated mortality appeared high. The retrospective nature of the data is highly likely to have underestimated the true prevalence of MSK disease and emphasizes the need for improved awareness of MSK diagnostic and management strategies. A teaching and training program has been developed to assist with this. Disclosure N.M. Yongolo: None. S.J. Krauth: None. S.M. Biswaro: None. B. Moshi: None. M. Mwanswila: None. A. Hemed: None. R. Njau: None. N. Allen Ng’unda: None. R. Walker: None. K. Kilonzo: None. S. Siebert: None. J. Halliday: None. E. McIntosh: None. C. Kelly: None. B. Mmbaga: None. G. Temu: None.