PATTERN OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS AMONG HAJJ PILGRIMS ADMITTED TO KING-ABDUL-AZIZ-HOSPITAL, MADINAH AL-MUNAWARAH

This prospective epidemiological study was done at King Abdul Aziz Hos pital, Madinah Al-Munawarah, during the 1993 Haj season, to identify t he medical problems of pilgrims. Out of 23,806 pilgrims who attended t his hospital during the study period, 773 (3.25%) were admitted as med ical cases. Mean age of admitted cases was 60.4 +/- 11.4 years. Pneumo nia(45.8%), diabetes mellitus (20.7%) and ischemic heart disease (15.3 %) were the most common diseases among pilgrims. Respiratory, cardiova scular and metabolic diseases affected 74%, 57% and 23% of the pilgrim s. There were 57 deaths, with a mortality rate of 7.4%. Myocardial inf arction was the most common cause of death. A large number of cases (3 2.6%) discharged themselves against medical advice. Old a,ae, poor phy sical fitness, multiple diseases, neglect in continuous treatment of k nown chronic diseases and failure to seek early medical advice were th e major factors responsible for morbidity and mortality.