Pattern of Admissions to Medical Ward of Jimma University specialized hospital, Jimma, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases are the main reasons for admission to the medical wards in high-income countries. While in low and middle income countries communicable diseases are the main reasons for admission to the medical wards. However, in some low and middle income countries the reasons for admission are changing from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases. But, data on reasons for admission to the medical wards of low income countries, like Ethiopia, is scarce. Therefore, this study will take five year data from Jima University specialized hospital internal medicine inpatient department. Objective: evaluating the recent patterns of medical admissions to see whether there is a change in disease epidemiology in the study area. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from admission ward registers and patient case notes was done. Data was collected through chart review using structured questionnaire containing age; gender; duration of stay; clinical outcomes; discharge diagnosis and Secondary diagnosis. The International Statistical Classification of Disease was used for sorting and categorizing the diagnosis. All patients admitted to the adult medical wards at Jima University Specialized hospital for the period January 2013 to December 31, 2013 were included. Analysis was done using SPSS 20. Both descriptive and inferential analysis was done. Result: A total of 306 patient case notes were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 40.7 years (SD + 18.91). The highest number of admissions was among the age groups 21 to 30 years, 88 (28.8%). The most common reasons for admission to the medical wards of JUSH were certain infectious and parasitic diseases accounting for 128 (41.8%) admissions, all forms of TB 30(9.8%) was the most common infectious disease in the subcategory. The death rate among patients admitted to the medical wards was 8.8%. Conclusions: Communicable diseases were still the common reasons for medical admissions at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.