Ikenga, VO; Oparaodu, UA (2022).

Greener Journal of Medical Sciences

Vol. 12(1), pp. 109-111, 2022

ISSN: 2276-7797

Copyright ©2022, the copyright of this article is retained by the author(s)

https://gjournals.org/GJMS

 

 

 

 

 

Otorhinolaryngological Care in the Geriatric Population in Port Harcourt South-South Nigeria.

 

 

Ikenga VO; Oparaodu UA

 

 

Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Rivers State University.

 

 

 

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

 

Article No.:031022034

Type: Research

Full Text: PDF, HTML, EPUB, PHP

 

Introduction: The elderly population include adults aged 65 years and above. Geriatric otorhinolaryngological care remains abysmal. There is paucity of information on pattern otorhinolaryngological disorders in our environment. The aim of this study is to document the ear, nose and throat disorders in our environment.

Method: A two year retrospective study of all patients aged 65 years and above who attended ear, nose and throat outpatient clinic in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Port Harcourt. Age, Sex, presenting complain and diagnosis were analysed.

Result: There were more males with M:F 1.4:1. The commonest age group is 65-69 and least age group is 90 and above. The commonest presenting complain is reduced hearing while sensorineural hearing loss is commonest hearing loss.

Conclusion: There were more males in seen in this study, the commonest age group is between 65-69 years and sensorineural hearing loss is was commonest diagnosis.

 

Accepted:  10/03/2022

Published: 25/03/2022

 

*Corresponding Author

Dr. Oparaodu U.A

E-mail: ureh.oparaodu@ ust.edu.ng, u.oparaodu@ ust.edu.ng

Phone: 08033167988

 

Keywords: Otorhinolaryngologic, geriatric disorders

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

The elderly population as defined by WHO includes all adults aged 65 years and above1. A population of the elderly in Nigeria is about nine million2,3. However medical care for the elderly has remained abysmal in most third world setting. There is paucity of information on otorhinolaryngological conditions in the elderly in our environment. 

 

Known otorhinolaryngological problems in the elderly includes hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, swallowing abnormalities, rhinosinusitis and head/neck tumors. However, hearing loss is the most prevalent otorhinolaryngological disorder in the elderly.

 

The aim of this study is to look at pattern of otorhinolaryngological problems as seen in the elderly in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria.

 

Proper understanding and documentation of pattern of otorhinolaryngological disorders in the elderly will help for proper planning and care for geriatric patients in our environment.

 

 

METHOD

 

It is a retrospective study of all patients aged 65 years and above who attended the ENT outpatient clinic of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital between September 2018 – September 2020. The out patient register and patient case notes were accessed. Data retrieved includes patient’s age, sex, presenting complains and diagnosis. Data was loaded into Microsoft excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS Software.

 

 

 

RESULT

 

Table 1.

AGE (YEARS)

FREQUENCY (n)

PERCENTAGE          %

65 – 69

252

50.0

70 – 74

156

31.1

75 – 79

60

11.9

80 – 84

18

3.6

85 – 89

12

2,4

90 & ABOVE

6

1.2

TOTAL

504

100

 

Table 2.

COMPLAINTS

FREQUENCY (n)

Hearing loss

2.94

Ear ache

12

Dizziness

30

Tinnitus

24

Swallowing disorders

48

Nasal discharge

12

Foreign body

6

Bleeding from the nose

6

 

Table 3.

DIAGNOSIS

FREQUENCY (n)

Sensorineural hearing loss

132

Carumenauris

18

Chronic suppurative otitis media

5

Conductive hearing loss

42

Rhinosinusitis pharyngitis

12

Otitis externa

72

pharyngitis

30

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

In this study the prevalence of geriatric patients is 12.1 of the patients seen. This shows a significant improvement in otorhinolaryngological outpatient attendance when compared to previous study in the same environment4. This may be due to increased awareness of the availability of otorhinolaryngological services in our environment. However this is still lower than the prevalence reported in the developed world.

 

The age group 65 – 59 years had the highest attendance rate, this agrees with the work of previous researchers4, 5, 6. Hearing loss is the most common disorder seen in this study. This agrees with the work of Ogunleye et al and Okhaku et al. however this differs from the findings of Onotai et al4,5.

 

In conclusion, the geriatric patients in this study constituted 12.1% of the patients seen. The most affected age group with hearing loss is 65-69 years.

 

 

REFERENCES

 

1.      Orima H, Hiddeki I, Suzuki T. Reviewing the Definition of the elderly. Geriatr Geront 2006; 6: 149-158.

 

2.      UNICEF at glance 2016 Nigeria Statistics.

 

3.      World Facts Books.

 

4.      Onotai L O, Oparaodu U A. Otological Disease in the elderly Patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,  A 15 year review. Glob J Oto 2016; 6(2): 5555682.

 

5.      Ogunleye AOA, Ibekwe T S, Ijaduola GTA. Otorhinolaryngology and Geriatrics in Ibadan. Nigerian Journal otorhinolaryngology 2005; 2(1) : 7-12.

 

6.      Calvo E, Rodriguez G, Toranzo G. Care of the elderly patients in An ENT Clinic, Descriptive Study. Acta Otorhinolaryngol ESP 1999; 50(1): 56- 59.

 

 

 

Cite this Article: Ikenga, VO; Oparaodu, UA (2022). Otorhinolaryngological Care in the Geriatric Population in Port Harcourt South-South Nigeria. Greener Journal of Medical Sciences, 12(1): 109-111.