Geriatric in Patient Profile at the Department of Internal Medicine at Niamey National Hospital, Niger

Abstract

Background: The ageing population in developing countries has brought a demographic and an epidemiological transition, with the impact of chronic diseases resulting from life style changes on the health status of the population. Objective: To describ a profile geriatrics patient, specifically to identify epidemiologic, clinical, etiologic and outcome of this group at the department of internal medicine to NNH Patients and method: Medical records of all geriatric patients aged ≥65 years admitted at the department of NNH Between January 2012 and December 2015 were retrieved and reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 6074 admissions at the internal medicine department of NNH over three years were reported and 1130 (18, 6%) were geriatrics patients, the average age was 75, 95 years and more than half were men (50,7%). 80 % of patients were in the young old group (65-74 years), 13% in the old group (75-84 years) and 7% in the oldest old group (≥85 years). High blood pressure was the frequent comorbidity (12, 3%) and the most symptoms caused hospitalization were stroke (17, 6%), fevers (16, 5%) and worst health (13, 1%). Frequent illnesses were cardiovascular diseases (38.4%), infections, (19.2%) and endocrine diseases (11%). The average length of hospital stays was 8, 7 days. The mortality rate was 18, 2% and the worst outcomes factors were female sex, frail elderly group in 75 to 84 years and high blood pressure. Conclusion: Chronic diseases were responsible of morbidity and mortality for the majority elderly’s patient.