Ophthalmic admissions in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Background

Hospitalization for eye care is required for different reasons. The pattern of admissions into the ophthalmic wards of a sub-urban tertiary hospital was studied.

Methodology

Records of patients admitted into the Ophthalmology wards of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex Ile-Ife from January 2004 to December 2007 were reviewed and the age, sex, duration of admission and diagnosis recorded. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 13 and statistical significance inferred at P<0.05.

Results

Of the 523 patients admitted, 60.2% were males while 39.8% were females (P<0.0001); the male preponderance becomes less prominent with increasing age (P=0.001). The duration of admission ranged between 2 and 24 days with a mean of 2.86± 1.95 days and 63% were admitted for 3 days. The main indications for admission were cataract (58.3%), ocular trauma (14.3%) and glaucoma (13.4%). Eye injuries were more common among children and young adults while cataract and glaucoma were the leading indications in the middle aged and elderly.

Conclusion

Cataract, trauma and glaucoma were the leading indications for ophthalmic hospitalization. Human and infrastructural development of the ophthalmology unit should lay emphasis on the more prevalent needs to enhance effective and efficient management of these diseases.