CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE IN ELDERLY NIGERIANS SEEN IN A NEW TEACHING HOSPITAL

Background: Population disease patterns in the developing environment are mostly based on studies carried out in tertiary hospitals serving a wide and mixed population. This study was carried out to assess the pattern and impact of cardiovascular diseases in elderly patients in a new developing teaching hospital, which can be described as the first and only truly community-based tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: The case records of patients admitted to the medical ward in the firs t 2 years of the teaching hospital were reviewed, and all cardiovascul ar admissions to the same unit were prospectively studied for another e-year period. Results: Of 138 patients admitted for cardiovascular di seases, 57 (41.3%) were elderly. Of all elderly patients admitted, 51. 4% were admitted for cardiovascular diseases. Mortality was commoner i n the elderly (76% in men, 24% in women), and cardiovascular diseases alone were responsible for 48% of the mortality. The prospective part of the study shows that a similar proportion of the elderly were admit ted for cardiovascular diseases. Heart failure and cerebrovascular acc ident occurred more commonly in the elderly, whereas uncomplicated hyp ertension was commoner in the younger age group, but mortality was sim ilar. Only one case of coronary heart disease was seen. Conclusions: T his study indicates that cardiovascular diseases have a great impact o n morbidity and mortality in the elderly in the developing region, des pite a low prevalence of coronary heart disease, and a much higher imp act as compared with all other diseases combined. Our elderly populati on thus requires more attention with regard to cardiovascular diseases . This hospital may produce a near Framingham-type study of our enviro nment in the near future.