Reasons for the Use of Health Care in Elderly Persons Undergoing Consultation in the University Clinic of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology of the Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center (CNHU-HKM) of Cotonou
- 1 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 2 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 3 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 4 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 5 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 6 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 7 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 8 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 9 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 10 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
- 11 Internal Medicine Department of Hubert Koutoukou Maga National Hospital and University Center in Cotonou (CNHU-HKM), Cotonou, Benin
Abstract
Introduction: The progressive ageing of the population from southern Sahara is leading to an increase in health needs among the elderly. The purpose of this study was to output an overview about the reasons why the elderly come for consultation in the internal medicine department of the HKM-NHUC in Cotonou. Methodology: This was a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study, which included all patients aged 65 years and over, who came for the first time for consultation in the Internal Medicine Department of the CNHU-HKM between January 1 st and December 31 st , 2017. Results: Among the 680 new patients received in internal Medicine consultations during the study period, 118 people were aged 65 and over, representing a hospital frequency of 17.35%. The sex ratio was 0.9 with a mean age of 73 ± 7 years. Hypertension was the main comorbidity of the patients (69%). Cough (11.3%) and low back pain (8.2%) dominated the reasons for consultation. The three main nosological groups of pathologies were, in descending order, diseases of the osteo-articular system (17.5%), diseases of the respiratory system (16.5%) and diseases of the circulatory system (12.4%). Pneumonia (11.3%) and lumbosacral spondylarthrosis (10.3%) were the most frequent pathologies in patients whose health needs remain quite varied. Conclusion: The elderly become gradually an important part of the population in southern Sahara. A better understanding of the health needs of this category of the population is necessary to deal effectively with the health challenges that will accompany this phenomenon.
- The World Bank (2018) Life Expectancy at Birth: 1960-2018. The World Bank, Washington DC. https://donnees.banquemondiale.org/indicateur/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?end=2018&start=1960
- United Nations Population Fund (2016) The State of World Population 2016. UNFPA, New York. https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/sowp/downloads/The_State_of_World_Population_2016_-_English.pdf
- Lévesque, H. (2002) Internist Profession. La Revue de Médecine Interne, 23, 411-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0248-8663(02)00587-8
- Santos-Eggimann, B. (2007) The Health of People Aged 65-70: A Snapshot Profile. Revue Médicale Suisse, 132, 32660. https://www.revmed.ch/RMS/2007/RMS-132/32660
- American Senior Communities (2017) The Top 10 Health Concerns for Seniors. ASC Care, Indianapolis. https://www.asccare.com/health-concerns-for-seniors
- Pison, G. (2009) Demographic Ageing Will Be More Rapid in the South than in the North. Population & Sociétés, 457, 1-4.
- Woo, E.K., Han, C., Jo, S.A., et al. (2007) Morbidity and Related Factors among Elderly People in South Korea: Results from the Ansan Geriatric (AGE) Cohort Study. BMC Public Health, 7, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-7-10
- Hien, H., Berthé, A., Koiné Drabo, M., et al. (2014) Prevalence and Patterns of Multimorbidity among the Elderly in Burkina-Faso: Cross-Sectional Study. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 19, 1328-1333. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12377
- Sough, B., Gauthier, T., Clair, D., et al. (2012) Elders of 75 and over at an Emergency Service. Geriatrie et psychologie neuropsychiatrie du vieillissement, 10, 151-158. https://doi.org/10.1684/pnv.2012.0351
- World Health Organization (2013) A Global Brief on Hypertension: Silent Killer, Global Public Health Crisis. WHO, Geneva.
- Zedini, C., Ajmi, T.N., Bougmiza, I., et al. (2014) The Morbidity Diagnosed among the Elderly in Primary Care at the Sanitary Region of Sousse. La Tunisie Medicale, 92, 128-134.
- Cadmus, E.O., Adebusoye, L.A., Olowookere, O.O., et al. (2017) A Descriptive Study of the Morbidity Pattern of Older Persons Presenting at a Geriatric Centre in Southwestern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 20, 873-878.
- Agbodandé, K.A., Wanvoégbè, F.A., Dodo, L.R.S., et al. (2018) Morbidity and Causes of Death in Elderly Patients Hospitalized at the District Hospital of Comè, Benin. La Revue de Gériatrie, 43, 91-95.