Spectrum of neurological diseases seen at the neurology outpatient clinic in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The spectrum of neurological diseases in developing countries like Nigeria is diverse and growing, and reliable data on the profile of these disorders is crucial for workforce planning and health-care demands. We sought to determine the burden of neurological disorders seen at Jos University Teaching Hospital's (JUTH) neurology outpatient clinic in north central Nigeria.
Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study that used a retrospective data abstraction technique on patients who received care at the JUTH neurology clinic between April 2017 and March 2019.
Results: Neurological cases account for approximately 79.9% of all outpatient presentations in the Neurology clinic. There were 2,304 males (47.1%) and 2592 females (52.9%). Cerebrovascular disease (33.9%), seizure disorder (16.3%), movement disorders (9.4%), disorders of nerve roots, plexuses, and peripheral nerve (6.6%), headache disorders (4.2%), and disorders with neurocognitive impairment (3.7%) were the most common neurological diseases.
Conclusion: In our clinic, a wide spectrum of neurological diseases exist, with cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, and movement disorders being the most frequent and important causes of morbidity and healthcare costs.